News Details

On 22 and 29 May, the last sessions of the Final Policy Making Online Event of the European project UNITY – Uniting Networks for Inclusive Democracy and Empowerment were held, bringing together participants from various countries with the aim of promoting the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in public policy-making.

The event stood out for its participatory and inclusive approach, involving persons with disabilities, professionals and civil society organisations, and promoting the debate on rights, inclusion, accessibility and participation. IDiPD, IP was present in both sessions, contributing to the reflection and sharing of experiences in the promotion of more inclusive public policies.

During the sessions, central themes for the inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities were addressed, namely the rights to parenthood, affective relationships and self-determination, access to health, education and information in accessible formats, as well as the importance of sex education and the prevention of violence. Structural challenges were also discussed, such as the persistence of barriers in communication, the need for more articulation between services and barriers to participation in international contexts. At the same time, the relevance of the training of self-representatives (self-advocates), the sustainability of participation initiatives and the promotion of person-centred approaches that strengthen autonomy, inclusion and the full exercise of rights were highlighted.

The initiative thus reinforced the importance of the active participation of persons with disabilities in public policy-making, as well as the need to further invest in more inclusive practices and models.