all across Europe
European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities
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EASPD is the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities and represents over 20,000 support services for persons with disabilities across Europe.
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We promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality service systems.
Key areas of work
When done right, quality care and support enables people to live independently, in the community, to make choices, and to have control over their lives.
James Crowe, EASPD President
Policy Webinar: Shrinking Space for NGOs in Europe
Across much of Europe, many NGOs, including social service providers, are experiencing a shrinking space. This is both in terms of their voice towards policymakers, and the day-to-day services the NGOs provide to vulnerable or excluded individuals.
Protests are currently being held in Georgia against a proposed bill, which would effectively categorise most NGOs as “foreign agents”. This is another example of rising concerns about the direction we are headed regarding NGO treatment in many areas of Europe. On top of the impact this has in terms of democratic participation and civil dialogue, this also has significant negative consequences for many NGO social service providers in the same country. This in turn impacts the quality of life of those who draw on the social services provided.
Join us on the 14th March from 11h00 – 12h30 (CET) to:
- Raise awareness and better understand the issue of anti-NGO policies in many parts of Europe.
- Provide moral and other forms of support for those affected, including those in Georgia.
- Assess how this impacts the provision of support for persons with disabilities and other groups.
- Exchange initiatives to fight back against this anti-NGO trend
Programme
11:00 | Welcome
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11:05 | Protests against “foreign agents” law in Georgia: what is happening?
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11:15 | Shrinking Space for NGOs in Bulgaria
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11:25 | Disability Rights Movements in Eroding Democracies in Europe
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11:35 | Shrinking space for Civil Society in Europe: context and what next?
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11:45 | Q&A with Participants
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12:15 | Concluding remarks
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Calendar
Policy Webinar: Shrinking Space for NGOs in Europe
Across much of Europe, many NGOs, including social service providers, are experiencing a shrinking space. This is both in terms of their voice towards policymakers, and the day-to-day services the NGOs provide to vulnerable or excluded individuals.
Protests are currently being held in Georgia against a proposed bill, which would effectively categorise most NGOs as “foreign agents”. This is another example of rising concerns about the direction we are headed regarding NGO treatment in many areas of Europe. On top of the impact this has in terms of democratic participation and civil dialogue, this also has significant negative consequences for many NGO social service providers in the same country. This in turn impacts the quality of life of those who draw on the social services provided.
Join us on the 14th March from 11h00 – 12h30 (CET) to:
- Raise awareness and better understand the issue of anti-NGO policies in many parts of Europe.
- Provide moral and other forms of support for those affected, including those in Georgia.
- Assess how this impacts the provision of support for persons with disabilities and other groups.
- Exchange initiatives to fight back against this anti-NGO trend
Programme
11:00 | Welcome
|
11:05 | Protests against “foreign agents” law in Georgia: what is happening?
|
11:15 | Shrinking Space for NGOs in Bulgaria
|
11:25 | Disability Rights Movements in Eroding Democracies in Europe
|
11:35 | Shrinking space for Civil Society in Europe: context and what next?
|
11:45 | Q&A with Participants
|
12:15 | Concluding remarks
|