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family carers
Building a stronger framework for the rights of persons with disabilities and their families for the next five years 

Building a stronger framework for the rights of persons with disabilities and their families for the next five years 

The 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes place at a pivotal moment for the European Union. As a new College of Commissioners is forming, the EU is concluding the first phase of its European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2021–2030). This transition offers an opportunity to set new priorities and intensify efforts towards inclusion, equity, and support for persons with disabilities and their families.

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Strengthening EU care policies for family carers

Strengthening EU care policies for family carers

A growing recognition of the challenges faced by care systems in the EU is leading to promising steps towards stronger support for family carers. COFACE is deeply engaged in shaping this agenda, advocating for comprehensive policies as outlined in its revised European Charter for Family Carers.

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Who’s caring for the carers ? Call for greater recognition and support for family carers across EU policies and funding 

Who’s caring for the carers ? Call for greater recognition and support for family carers across EU policies and funding 

In most European countries, there is a lack of adequate community-based services for persons with care needs. In many cases, this gap is filled by family members who frequently face the challenge of balancing their own needs with the demands of caregiving. However invaluable this role may be, non-professional care provided by family members should never replace the duty of national public authorities to provide high-quality, accessible and affordable support and care services to ensure people’s full participation in society.

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Unapei leads the way in shaping inclusive EU policies for people with disabilities

Unapei leads the way in shaping inclusive EU policies for people with disabilities

On 13 September 2024, Unapei’s Europe Commission held a pivotal seminar in Paris, bringing together members of the Unapei network and their European partners, including COFACE Families Europe. Unapei’s Europe Commission is dedicated to addressing EU political developments related to the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities and their families, with a focus on positively influencing these issues.

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European Care Strategy: spotlight on national Long-term care measures

European Care Strategy: spotlight on national Long-term care measures

COFACE monitors closely the implementation of the strategy in both care service fields: early childhood education and care (ECEC), and long-term care (LTC). For ECEC, we monitor especially measures taken through the European Child Guarantee national action plans, working with the Alliance for Investing in Children. For LTC, we do this together with a European care advocacy alliance of more than 20 NGOs and trade unions.

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Rallying for dignity: Unapei launches national petition for improved healthcare in France

Rallying for dignity: Unapei launches national petition for improved healthcare in France

For months, COFACE Disability Platform, Unapei, and other solidarity and healthcare associations have voiced concerns about the conditions of non-profit establishments and services implementing French local government policies. Alongside Uniopss (National Interfederal Union of Non-Profit Health and Social Organizations), Unapei is launching a petition, “For Dignified Support: Let’s Sound the Alarm Together.” It urges everyone to take action, including pushing for these topics to be discussed in the social life councils of establishments.

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Too old to care? Looking at disability and ageing from the perspective of family carers

Too old to care? Looking at disability and ageing from the perspective of family carers

Persons with disabilities have the right to live independently, included in the community and to family life. To mark the 2023 UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the COFACE Disability Platform places the spotlight on family carers. Their crucial role can significantly boost the fulfillment of the rights outlined in the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, provided they receive adequate support. A COFACE Disability “Thematic Note” was developed to contribute to policy discussions and help find constructive solutions.

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Thematic Note on Ageing Family Carers

Thematic Note on Ageing Family Carers

Principle 18 of the European Pillar of Social Rights stresses: the right to affordable long-term care services of good quality, in particular homecare and community-based services. Since its adoption in 2017, the European Union has been looking more intensively at the topic of Long-Term Care (LTC), most notably with the adoption in 2022 of the European Care Strategy and the Council Recommendation on Long-Term Care. In this important time, COFACE Disability Platform launch this thematic note to spark the debate on the diversity of family carers. While the lion’s share of family carers are currently of working age and need urgent actions to support them.

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Joint statement: Building up European care capital – sustainable investments, not burdensome costs

Joint statement: Building up European care capital – sustainable investments, not burdensome costs

Everywhere, organisations have been raising the alarm about the shortage of care services, professional care staff, insufficient support to informal carers, and the dangerous and immediate consequences for the entire society. On the first UN International Day of Care and Support, 17 European organisations call for urgent measures to address underinvestment and staff shortages in long-term care.

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Study session on Deinstitutionalisation practices

Study session on Deinstitutionalisation practices

This public study session organised by the European Expert Group on the transition from institutional to community-based care. It aims to bring together professionals, persons concerned by deinstitutionalisation, their families and representative organisations to discuss the shift toward meaningful inclusion in the community. 

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COFACE Disability Member Genitori Tosti calls upon the Italian Government and Parliament to recognise family carers as workers

COFACE Disability Member Genitori Tosti calls upon the Italian Government and Parliament to recognise family carers as workers

Trigger warning: homicide-suicide 

Genitori Tosti, COFACE Disability member organisation, calls upon the Italian Government and Parliament to take swift and responsible action to finalise the draft legislation on the recognition and support of family caregivers and to provide all the services necessary to ensure that those who care for their family members are never left alone. 

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OPINION: Who cares? Achieving effective measures to support informal family carers

OPINION: Who cares? Achieving effective measures to support informal family carers

It could be a good brain-teaser to ask what is the occupation of the tens of millions of people in Europe today, whose daily work time can span over 24 hours and is not only essential but also life-saving. We could not even say that this type of work is underpaid as it is, in many cases, not paid at all. And although it is not necessarily undervalued, it is clear that this essential work is taken for granted. For COFACE Families Europe, who represents the interests of families across Europe, the answer to this brainteaser is evident.

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COFACE Disability Platform puts the spotlight on Children with Disabilities: Breaking policy silos to better support children with disabilities and their families

COFACE Disability Platform puts the spotlight on Children with Disabilities: Breaking policy silos to better support children with disabilities and their families

In the run-up to the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the COFACE Disability Platform for the rights of persons with disabilities and their families is launching a policy brief looking at how children with disabilities are represented in recent EU Social Policy Frameworks. With this brief COFACE Disability wants to launch a reflection on the intersection between disability and age and how to integrate it into policies and programmes. For this EU Year of Youth COFACE Disability has focused this brief on Children with Disabilities and their families.

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