2018 Impact Report

2018 IMPACT REPORT EUROPEAN UNION OF THE DEAF 02 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EUD would like to thank the European The EUD interns Roy Maguire and Serafine Commission for funding this 2018 Impact Duss, along with all members of staff Report under the REC Work Programme. contributed to this up-to-date report with Without their substantial financial photos, texts and signed input. contributions, the publication of this report would not have been possible. Our member associations are at the heart of our work and we thank them for assisting and The support of the EUD Board and President co-operating with us throughout the year. have been of invaluable help to create an accurate and up-to-date account of the EUD The European Disability Forum (EDF), our activities in 2018: European disability umbrella organisation, has been a great partner in all our work, Board 2017 - 2021: informing us and collaborating with our President .......... Dr Markku Jokinen board and staff via email and in person, in and Vice-President .... Dr Gergely Tapolczai outside of Brussels. Board Member .... Louise “Lolo” Danielsson Board Member .... Daniel Büter In support of its daily work, EUD has been in Board Member .... Sofia Isari contact with a large number of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and other EU policymakers and aspires to continue this fruitful co-operation in the coming years. Dr Markku Jokinen Impact Report 2018 is now available in International Sign! Scan the QR code: Dr Gergely Tapolczai Louise “Lolo” Danielsson www.eud.eu/impact-reports/ Sofia Isari Daniel Büter translation-international-sign/ EUD IMPACT REPORT 2018 03 FOREWORD BY EUD PRESIDENT 2018 has been a very busy but special year. It In order to discuss the theme of Accessibility We’re very pleased that every member has brought many positive achievements for the from various angles, EUD used an opportunity done their best to raise the profile of EUD and deaf persons in Europe. to engage with industry and worked together gain a larger network this year. We hope to with Microsoft co-organising a seminar see this to continue in the upcoming year. 2018 was the year of the European focusing on accessibility and technology. Accessibility Act or the EAA. After three Microsoft hosted the seminar entitled We would like to thank the European years of negotiating we have an agreement. ACT (Accessible Communication Today!) Commission for its continued support, and Throughout the negotiations EUD, in in collaboration with the members of the look forward to our onward collaboration. collaboration with the European Disability European Platform of Deafness, Hard of Also, we wish to take this opportunity to Forum, National Associations of the Hearing, and Deafblindness. thank our National members of the Deaf and, Deaf (NADs) and other organisations has we know that together, we will achieve our undertaken many advocacy actions in order In addition to this work, EUD drafted a position aim in bettering access for all deaf persons to make sure that the final version of the Act paper on the ‘Accessibility of Information and across the EU. Whilst 2018 has been a imposes obligations to ensure accessibility Communication’. This document is vital to our successful year, our work is never done. We for products and services that are critical lobbying work as it can be used as a tool to will endeavour to work just as hard, if not for the deaf community. The final result outline the barriers deaf people face in their more, in 2019 to achieve more for the deaf is not perfect, but it will make substantial daily life in Europe and express EUD’s stance community across the EU. progress in some areas which are particularly on such issues. It was adopted by our General important for the deaf Europeans and the Assembly in October of 2018. accessibility of many digital products and services will not be theoretical anymore. This While ensuring accessibility, sign language is an excellent example of how joint advocacy plays a critical role. EUD is delighted to efforts between the National Associations remember the 23rd of September, which of the Deaf and EUD, effective collaboration was an incredibly special day for the sign with other European level organisations language users, globally. It was the 1st and meaningful dialogue with European International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL)! institutions can lead to positive results. The declaration by the United Nations (UN) announced that the IDSL will be celebrated The agreement on the EAA has a potential annually on the 23rd September as part of the to deliver changes for deaf persons across International Week of the Deaf. Our Executive the EU. However, this change will not be Director Mark Wheatley attended the special automatic, it will require our dedication and celebratory event in Geneva, Switzerland for hard work during the period of transposition, two days at the United Nations Headquarters. to make sure the EAA is properly transposed an implemented into the national laws of the EUD has been active and very busy in 2018. Member States of the EU. Only then it will You can see our journey through our board bring real and meaningful change in terms of members and the amount of activities they accessibility to deaf persons in Europe. have been involved in throughout Europe. Dr Markku Jokinen EUD President EUD IMPACT REPORT 2018 04 EUD INTRODUCTION EUROPEAN UNION Based in Brussels, Belgium, EUD is a not-for- officials, in consultation and co-operation with OF THE DEAF profit European non-governmental organisation its member NADs. EUD is a full member of (ENGO) comprising National Associations of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and is a the Deaf (NADs). It is the only supranational Regional Co-operating Member of the World organisation representing Deaf people at Federation of the Deaf (WFD) to tackle issues European level and is one of the few ENGOs of global importance, and also has participatory representing associations from all of the 28 EU status with the Council of Europe (CoE). Member States, in addition to EFTA countries: Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. EU acceding, EUD also has signed MoUs with the European candidate and potential member countries can Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli), the choose to become affiliated members with the European Union of the Deaf Youth (EUDY), the option to become full members as soon as they European Deaf Sports Organisation (EDSO) and officially enter the EU. the European Deafblind Union (EDbU). Since 2017, it has Special consultative status with the EUD aims to establish and maintain EU level United Nations. dialogue with its relative institutions and MISSION STATEMENT It is the core mission of EUD to promote, advance These key values are also mirrored in the and protect the rights of and opportunities for daily work of its Brussels headquarters. The deaf people in the European Union to ensure office provides a fully accessible signing they can become full citizens in their own right. environment with internationtal staff from many different countries across the EU. Most To achieve equality in both public and private staff are deaf sign language users and all life for deaf people, EUD has laid out three hearing staff must know or learn one national main long-term objectives: sign language as well as International Sign. Gender equality is also taken into account in 1 Recognition of the right to use an all employment policies and when organising indigenous sign language; events and speakers. 2 Empowerment through communication and information; and 3 Equality in education and employment. SIGN LANGUAGES Inherent to the work of EUD is the belief that equal education, information or to a fair AS A HUMAN RIGHT the right to sign language is a basic Human trial. Without early access to sign language Right. Sign language users, similarly with programmes and/or an educational systems national minorities, are in need of specific that foster the acquisition of the national targeted and coherent protection regarding and/or regional sign language(s) (and the their language and all human rights. National national written language), deaf children will and/or regional sign languages are the not be able to enjoy their basic human rights mother tongues of deaf sign language users as children or later in their adult life. across the EU and the world. EUD therefore advocates that the right to The right to sign language in itself is a sign language is an essential prerequisite to human right, but access to sign language ensure full and equal citizenship for all deaf is also essential for the fulfilment of other people. basic human rights, such as the right to EUD IMPACT REPORT 2018 05 EUD INITIATIVES EUD regularly plans and carries out campaigns, to the wider hearing society and key European workshops and other pan-European events to and national policy-makers. reach out to the deaf community, in addition On the 6th of October, EUD had its 32nd staff are on the right track to achieve the main GENERAL ASSEMBLY, General Assembly (GA), which took place in goals of EUD, which are in line with its vision. VIENNA, AUSTRIA Vienna, Austria. Delegates gathered from 27 National Associations of the Deaf (NADs). The Furthermore, three motions were proposed GA was an opportunity for the board members by the general assembly prior to the meeting and staff of EUD to give an overview of EUD’s and were discussed by the board and GA. The work and financial accounts. Danish Deaf Association tabled one motion and Doof Vlaanderen, the deaf association During the GA EUD Assistant Policy Officer, representing Flanders, Belgium, tabled two Martyna Balčiūnaitė, gave a presentation motions.

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