Today marks European Independent Living Day and this year it is dedicated to young disabled people.

The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability explained that every year, the European Day focuses on an important theme but especially this year, as 2022 is the European Year of Youth.

The idea of the European Year of Youth is to “shine the light on the importance of European youth to build a better future – greener, more inclusive and digital.” It is an opportunity to emphasise the importance of engaging young people in activities around Europe.

Marthese Mugliette, President of MFOPD, said `youths with disability must be able to participate in all that concerns ‘youths’ with other youths who do not have a disability. Any topic relevant to youths is relevant to youths who have a disability and thus the input of youths with disability is necessary for a healthy holistic result.”

She added that “participation is not a onetime event.”

Ms Mugliette stressed that “we cannot continue taking it for granted that whatever is being done and decided upon is truly beneficial to all. The lack of the participation of persons with disability on all that concerns them, always and at all levels by persons in authority and policy makers is hindering in having effective policies for all.”

She concluded by saying that, “the right of young persons to express their views, in all matters affecting them, is preserved in a fundamental right – not only at the European level but also, for those aged under 18, in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified international treaty in history.”

Permalink: Youth – The future of the Independent Living Movement