Resolution approved by the 6th EBU Deafblind Conference

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In line with all United Nations conventions on Human Rights and the United Nations Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities, We, the representatives of people with deafblindness in Europe, irrespective of age, gender and race, united at the 6th EBU Deafblind Conference on April 27th 2008 in Zagreb, Croatia, urge all governments in Europe

  • To sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People and its Optional Protocol;
  • To recognize deafblindness as a unique disability;
  • To recognize all persons with deafblindness as persons with the right to full participation in all areas of society including education, information, communication, employment, social and political life;
  • To ensure the quality of life, social inclusion, opportunities of employment, mobility and full participation of all persons with deafblindness by providing the necessary services including:
    • Quality special education;
    • Qualified interpreters;
    • Personal assistants and guides;
    • Rehabilitation;
    • Accessible information;
    • Full access to all aspects of the information society;
    • Accessible communication in the format and language needed by each individual person with deafblindness;
    • Provision of technical aids;
    • Assistive and adapted devices; and
    • Accessibility of the entire physical environment.
  • To provide the necessary economic foundation for the organizations of people with deafblindness, as well as engaging in constructive cooperation with these organizations in all matters concerning persons with deafblindness;
  • To ensure a legal basis for the necessary provisions and services as well as ensuring that the development and delivery of services take place in partnership and dialogue with persons with deafblindness and their organizations:
  • To provide the development of social policy, which takes into account the specific needs and problems of people with deafblindness during the planning of governmental programs and events concerning the support of the Disabled and protection of their rights, including the rights of women with deafblindness; as well as training of experts, interpreters and personal assistants for working with people with deafblindness, support and stimulation of their activities (including provision of economical discounts to them while they are in service for people with deafblindness).

Version 20.08.08