2013 Impact Report
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2013 IMPACT REPORT EUROPEAN UNION OF THE DEAF 02 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EUD would like to thank the European The EUD interns Elsa Brunemalm, Stephanie Commission for funding this 2013 Impact Johnston, Jana Havlová, and Sigríður Vala Report under the auspices of the PROGRESS Jóhannsdóttir, along with all members of staff programme. Without their substantial contributed to this up-to-date report with financial contributions the publication of this photos, texts, and signed input. report would not have been possible. Our member associations are at the heart of The support by both the previous and the our work and we thank them for assisting us newly elected EUD Boards and Presidents throughout the year. have been of invaluable help to create an accurate and up-to-date account of the EUD Furthermore, the European Disability Forum activities in 2013: (EDF), has been a great partner in all our work, informing us and collaborating with our Board Outgoing Board (2009 - 2013): and staff, via email and in person in and out President .......... Berglind Stefánsdóttir of Brussels. Vice-President .... Yannis Yallouros Board Member .... Dr Gergely Tapolczai In support of its daily work EUD has been Board Member .... Dr Humberto Insolera in contact with a large number of MEPs and Board Member .... Asger Bergmann other EU policymakers and hopes to continue this co-operation in the coming years. Incoming Board (from May 2013): President .......... Dr Markku Jokinen Vice-President .... Dr Humberto Insolera Board Member .... Louise Danielsson Board Member .... Alfredo Gómez Fernández Board Member .... Dr Gergely Tapolczai EUD IMPACT REPORT 2013 03 FOREWORD BY EUD PRESIDENT I was only recently elected EUD President It is a particularly great honour for EUD at the General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland. to be leading the European Commission’s Therefore, I must give my respect to the Pilot Project on the accessibility of the EU previous Board Members and President institutions and I look forward to the first Berglind Stefánsdóttir for their impressive results of the high-level consortium at the work in the past five years. They and the beginning of 2014. expanded team have worked tirelessly to make EUD into the visible European-level I look forward to the next years as EUD organisation it is today. President, working together with the other Board Members, EUD staff, and our Member I am proud to be taking over as President NADs. I hope you will enjoy reading this at such a crucial time, when the European publication and see it as an inspiration for Parliament will be re-elected and citizenship next year’s work. rights are at the heart of the European agenda. It is EUD’s aim to ensure Deaf sign language users can become citizens in their own right by empowering them through accessible information. The EUD Election Campaign plays a vital role in raising awareness for key policymakers and Deaf citizens, ensuring everyone can take part in the full election process. Dr Markku Jokinen EUD President EUD IMPACT REPORT 2013 04 EUD INTRODUCTION EUROPEAN UNION Based in Brussels, Belgium EUD is a not- EUD is a full member of the European OF THE DEAF for-profit European non-governmental Disability Forum (EDF), the umbrella organisation (ENGO) comprising National organisation of Disabled People’s Associations of the Deaf (NADs). It is the Organisations (DPOs) in Europe, and has a only supranational organisation representing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deaf sign language users at European level the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) to and is one of the few ENGOs representing tackle issues of global importance. EUD also associations in all 28 EU Member States, has signed an MoU with both the European including Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli) EU acceding, candidate, and potential and the European Union of the Deaf Youth member countries, such as Serbia or Turkey (EUDY). can choose to become affiliated members with the option to become full members as soon as they officially enter the EU. MISSION Statement It is the core mission of EUD to promote, These key values are also mirrored in the advance, and protect the rights of and daily work of the Brussels headquarters. The opportunities for Deaf people (including sign office provides a fully accessible signing language users) in the European Union to environment with international staff from ensure they can become full citizens in their many different countries across the EU. The own right. majority of staff are Deaf sign language users and all hearing staff must know at To achieve equality in both public and private least one national sign language as well as life for Deaf people EUD has laid out three International Sign. Gender equality is also main long-term objectives: taken into account in all employment policies and when organising events and speakers. 1 Recognition of the right to use an indigenous sign language; 2 Empowerment through communication and information; and 3 Equality in education and employment. SIGN LANGUAGES Inherent to EUD’s work is the belief that Human Rights, such as the right to equal AS A HUMAN RIGHT the right to sign language is a basic Human education, information, or a fair trial. Without Right. Sign language users, similarly to early access to sign language programmes national minorities, are in need of specific and an educational system that fosters the targeted and coherent acquisition of the national protection regarding ....................... sign language(s) (and their language and the national written all Human Rights. The The right to sign language in language(s) Deaf children national sign languages itself is a Human Right but will not be able to enjoy are the mother tongues access to sign language is also their basic Human Rights of Deaf sign language essential for the fulfilment of as children or later in users across the EU and other basic Human Rights their adult life. the world. EUD therefore advocates The right to sign language in itself is a Human the right to sign language as an essential Right but access to sign language is also prerequisite to ensure full and equal essential for the fulfilment of other basic citizenship for all Deaf people. EUD IMPACT REPORT 2013 05 EUD BOARD ELECTIONS This year saw EUD members electing a new stream and followed by over 1,000 persons Board and President at our General Assembly around Europe and the world. This was a step in Dublin. EUD’s new President is Dr Markku towards making the EUD Board elections Jokinen and from Finland. The former World more inclusive and transparent, bringing the Federation of the Deaf (WFD) President is political process closer to all Deaf citizens. supported by the Vice-President from Italy: Dr Humberto Insolera. The other Board Members The new Board members started their official are: Louise “Lolo” Danielsson from Sweden, posts after the 2013 GA was formally closed Alfredo Gómez Fernández from Spain, and Dr by former President, Berglind Stefánsdóttir, Gergely Tapolczai from Hungary. who has stepped down to re-focus on her career as the head of a well-known research The President was elected by a majority institute for the Deaf. At the same time the of 56% of the votes by delegates from 28 delegates unanimously awarded the Icelandic different countries. For the first time the honorary membership of EUD. full election was broadcast live via web Helga Stevens Chair of EUD General Assembly Rudolf Sailer President German Deaf Association EUD Board from May 2013 Left to right: Dr Markku Jokinen, Dr Humberto Insolera, Louise Danielsson, Dr Gergely Tapolczai, Alfredo Gómez Fernández EUD IMPACT REPORT 2013 06 EUD INITIATIVES EUD regularly plans and carries out campaigns, workshops, and other pan-European events to reach out to the Deaf community but also wider hearing society and key European and national policymakers. ELECTION CAMPAIGN EUD is fully aware of the importance of the to the awareness rising, in conjunction with upcoming European Parliament elections the European Year of Citizens, EUD have in restoring faith into the European project. created an election manifesto, which aims Furthermore, EUD believes that it is crucial at achieving a certain level of accessibility of to include Deaf sign language users into the a large number of MEP websites and social election process, ensuring that they also can media sites. EUD have been working in close fully enjoy their Union citizenship rights, co-operation with its member NADs and have as enshrined in the Treaties. To contribute asked MEPs to commit to the following: - Translate at least one page on the - Organise at least one open citizens’ campaign website/social media session in the home constituency that site into sign language (national or allows Deaf persons to participate International Sign) fully using their preferred method of communication - Subtitle at least one video that contains spoken content on the - Make use of the Commission’s campaign website/social media site pilot project video sign language interpreting service at least once to communicate with a Deaf citizen. - Hold at least one conference or event that provides sign language interpretation and speech-to-text reporting So far 19 MEPs have signed the manifesto and EUD will continue lobbying policymakers to sign and implement the manifesto before the elections in May 2014. Country Numbers Austria 1 Cyprus 1 Finland 5 Germany 2 Ireland 1 Netherlands 1 Spain 7 Alfredo Gómez Fernández MEP Rosa Estaràs Ferragut EUD Board member Spain Political Party Numbers EPP 5 S&D 8 NI ALDE 5 NI 1 EUD IMPACT REPORT 2013 07 After the EU ratified the UNCRPD, EUD has European Commission Head of Unit on the UNCRPD EVENT become aware of the data deficit when it Rights of Persons with Disabilities welcomed comes to the implementation of Deaf-related the audience before key speeches were given issues.