European Economic and Social Committee

Civil society meeting on the implementation of the

UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities

Version 16/08/2016

Venue:

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC and

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Rue Belliard, 99

Entrance Rue van Maerlant 2
B-1040 BRUSSELS

WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 (9:00-13:00)

9.00 – 09.30 Registration and welcome coffee

9.30 – 10.15 Opening Session

Chair: Mrs. Gunta ANCA, EDF Vice-President and member of the European Economic and Social Committee on the work of the EESC on the rights of persons with disabilities

Opening remarks:

Mr. Bernard NOEL, President of the Permanent Study Group on Disability Rights of the EESC

Mr. Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, EDF President and member of the Permanent Study Group on Disability Rights of the EESC

Mrs. Emmanuelle Grange, Head of Disability and Inclusion unit, DG Employment, the European Commission on the follow up to the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the European Union (tbc)

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

10.15 – 11.15 Session 1 - Contributions by disabled people’s organisations and civil society organisations on follow up to the EU Concluding Observations

Chair: Mrs. Catherine NAUGHTON, Director, European Disability Forum on the work achieved and plans for the upcoming months

Presentation of the EDF outline of its alternative response to the EU Concluding Observations by Ms. An-Sofie LEENKNECHT, Human Rights Officer, European Disability Forum

Contributions from EDF members, other civil society organisations, national human rights institutions and equality bodies, etc. (tbc)

DISCUSSION with THE PARTICIPANTS

11:15-11:30 COFFEE BREAK

11:30 – 12:45 Session 2 - Contributions by EU Monitoring Framework members and CRPD focal point at the European Commission

Chair: Mr. Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, EDF President and member of the Permanent Study Group on Disability Rights of the EESC

Contributions from the Fundamental Rights Agency, European Ombudsman and the European Parliament (tbc)

European Commission CRPD focal point on structured dialogue

DEBATE with THE PARTICIPANTS

12:45 – 13:00 Closing session

The way forward and conclusions by Mr. Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS

CLOSING COMMENTS from the participants

Remote participation:

EDF will host a twitter chat from 9.30 to 10.30 on September 14th to collect input on implementation of EU law at the national level. #eucrpdframework #eescedfhearing

Short questions will be launched from @myedf and the public will be invited (to provide their inputs).

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