Welsh Euro-MP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru) has called for new legislation on disabilities during a keynote speech today at the European Parliament of Disabled People, which is taking place in Brussels this week. She also cited some Welsh projects as fine examples to be shared with others.

The event is a chance for the disability movement to lobby European lawmakers ahead of next year's elections and for European parliamentarians to listen first hand to the views of disabled people. Some 200 delegates with disabilities and over 100 observers representing disability organisations from 28 countries across Europe are taking part in the two day event held at the European Parliament. 2003 is the European Year of People with Disabilities.

Two representatives from Wales were at the event - Jacqui Christy James from Pontypridd, who is an officer of the European Disability Forum and Rhian Davies, Chief Executive Disability Wales – and Jill met both of them today.

In her speech, Jill Evans MEP, who represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament, called for new legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities. She praised the Year of People with Disabilities as an opportunity to change attitudes and ensure disabled people have the opportunity to participate fully in society:

"I am pleased to support the work being done by the European Disability Forum and the campaign for the mainstreaming of disability issues, for stronger and more comprehensive legislation and for a legally binding UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities.

”The Year of People with Disabilities is about raising awareness of the problems and discrimination that people with disabilities face but it is also about celebrating the talents of people with disabilities. It is about seeing the person not the disability and changing attitudes. It is about human rights, about individuals and groups of people with disabilities representing themselves, as is happening here today, and participating fully in society at all levels.

”The European Year of People with Disabilities must be a springboard for the future not a one off event. With the European elections coming up next year we must ensure full accessibility for people with disabilities in terms of policies and campaigns, as voters and as candidates. All politicians and all parties must commit themselves to address and act upon the diverse needs of all people and put disability much higher up on the political agenda."

“More than 30 voluntary Access Groups now operate throughout the country ensuring that disabled people are involved in shaping their environments and promoting access in their areas. In my own local authority area of Rhondda Cynon Taff a multi agency forum has been set up which brings together people with disabilities, carers and decision makers on a regular basis and they work on a programme to ensure that the authority's services develop in the right direction.

“I have also seen some brilliant examples of projects set up under the European EQUAL funding programme. These are the kinds of examples we need to share with each other.”

Diwedd/Ends.