Belgium: segregation policies in Flemish schools breach the rights of children with disabilities, European Committee of Social Rights says

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According to a recent decision from the European Committee of Social Rights, the Flemish community of Belgium denies access to mainstream education to disabled children and fails to provide the necessary assistance to ensure such inclusion. The complaint was initiated by international human rights organisation Validity Foundation (formerly the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre) in collaboration with Flemish organisation “Equal rights for every person with a disability” (GRIP – Gelijke Rechten voor Iedere Persoon met een handicap), national partner of the Opening Doors for Europe’s Children campaign in Belgium.

Evidence from the Opening Doors National Coordinator in Belgium also shows that children with disabilities in Belgium are among those who are the most discriminated against. In 2015, there were 7,917 children in institutional care in Flanders of whom 7,286 were those with disabilities and 466 children were below the age of 5.

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ENIL Freedom Drive 2017 – Registration deadline extended

enil_freedomdrive2017The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), the Opening Doors national partner in Belgium, is organising ENIL 2017 Freedom Drive that will take place between 24th and 28th September in Brussels. The ENIL Freedom Drive is one of the key campaigns held every two years since 2003. It provides supporters of the Independent Living Movement with the unique opportunity to meet Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and promote human rights issues, as well as to share experiences and ideas with colleagues from around Europe.
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Institutional care should only be used as a last resort, says the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child report in Serbia

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On 3 February 2017, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child published its verdict on the state of children’s rights in the Republic of Serbia. In the concluding observations regarding implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Committee commented on the progress achieved since the last reporting period, but also noted that some recommendations from 2008 have not been fully implemented.
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Why it is crucial to end orphanage-style care systems in Europe

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Strengthening families and tackling child poverty goes hand-in-hand with ending institutional care for children, writes Jana Hainsworth for Euractiv.

As you return to your families to celebrate Christmas, take a few minutes to consider this. Hundreds of thousands of children across Europe are growing up, away from their families, in institutional care.
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