The European Union (EU) is the world’s largest aid donor. It funds and implements projects worldwide where persons with disabilities should be included. EDF holds the EU accountable and ensures organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs) are consulted in EU policy and programming. We want to facilitate the liaison between DPOs and EU Delegations staff to ensure persons with disabilities are engaged in EU work towards different regions of the world.
EDF works closely with the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities (AOPD). AOPD is a regional organization composed of DPOs operating in the different Arab Countries (cuntries in the Middle East and North Africa).
AOPD’s main objectives are to promote the rights of people with disabilities, to empower people with disabilities and to represent Arab people with disabilities in the world at large.
Contact: aodp@cyberia.net.lb
X: @ArabPersons
It´s been more than seven months since Israel´s most recent military assault on Gaza began, started by the Hamas-led attack in Israel, a barbaric massacre on October 7 that saw 1139 people murdered. Hamas is still holding captive over 200 hostages from Israel under unspeakable conditions. The Israeli military assault on Gaza has killed over 35,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians, including over 15,000 children. The response has destroyed critical infrastructure, caused mass displacement and caused particular harm to Gazans with disabilities. The World Health Organisation keeps detailed information.
In response to this horrific situation, a group of disability activists published an open letter to the disability rights community. The letter states:
“With the Israeli army entering Rafah and further escalating the horror, we call on disability rights leaders, activists, experts, researchers, and all our institutions to actively join global efforts to end the war against the Palestinian people, by:
The European Disability Forum signed the letter on 24 May.
If you want to help, consider donating to:
From the President of EDF, in Brussels at our Board meeting, 16th March 2024: “Today, in Europe, in the European Neighbourhood and the world, our brothers and sisters with disabilities. Mothers, fathers, children, families are under bombardment- our Ukrainian brothers and sisters now suffer over two years sustained attacks by Russia. We remember all those affected by the war in Ukraine, and our members who fight relentlessly to minimise the harm , and provide support to persons with disabilities. And another dark shadow hanging over us is the ongoing horrific war between Israel and Gaza. We have called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the protection of persons with disabilities and all civilians. But right now, as we speak, the people of Gaza are starving. Children are starving and families live in fear. Death is everywhere. How can a person with disabilities be aided by food parachuted in from the sky? Europe: where are you? Europe should be a place of peace and a place that promotes peace, safety and security, and should invest every effort possible to bring immediate ceasefire in Gaza.”
From the President of EDF, in Slovenia, at our General Assembly, 11th May 2024: ” I would like at this point to express my deepest sadness that it has not been possible to bring peace in Ukraine. Ukrainians continue to fight against the Russian full-scale invasion which has been going on for more than two years; we will hear today from our members in Ukraine. The brutal war in Gaza continues and I cannot put in words how devastating this is to the people – while we are here, working together, people with disabilities and their families and communities are cut off , under attack, and starving. We call again today through the resolution of our General Assembly for the restoration of peace.”
