Turin Declaration demands stronger support for people with disabilities and their families

Today EASPD launched the Turin Declaration – "Empowering Families, Enabling Self-Determination".

Today, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) launched the Turin Declaration – "Empowering Families, Enabling Self-Determination." The Declaration was co-signed by 13 European organisations representing people with disabilities, informal carers, families, children and the services supporting them. It calls for action to ensure sustainable, community-based support systems that empower families and informal carers, and promote self-determination and participation for people with disabilities.

Informed by the results of EASPD’s recent study on supporting families and promoting self-determination, the Declaration underlines that families, and particularly women, continue to fill the gaps left by fragmented and under-resourced support systems. It urges the EU and its Member States to invest in sustainable, person-centred services and provides concrete recommendations that ensure that both people with disabilities and their families can access the support they need to exercise real choice and control over their lives.

"The Turin Declaration represents a collective call to urgently address gaps in support for families", said Kirsi Konola, President of EASPD. "Families and people with disabilities must no longer be left to navigate broken systems. Europe must invest in inclusion and ensure that support is a right, not a privilege."

Together, the signatories call on the EU to take a leading role in shaping inclusive and sustainable policies and:

  • Ensure a strong follow-up of the European Care Strategy, including an ambitious EU Care Deal, in consultation with social actors;
  • Deliver on a second phase of the EU Disability Rights Strategy (2026–2030) that moves Europe closer to the implementation of the UNCRPD;
  • Secure strengthened data collection and accountability for the implementation of the Child Guarantee: 
  • Include actions for deinstitutionalisation in the Affordable Housing Plan.

A European conference bringing evidence and practice together

The Declaration was launched during EASPD’s International Conference hosted in Turin on 20–21 October. The event gathered over 250 participants from across Europe including policymakers, service providers, researchers, people with disabilities and family representatives.

Speaking during the launch of the Declaration, John Dunne, Chair of the Board of Directors of Eurocarers, added: “This Declaration shows a united call from the disability and family sectors for real change. Supporting families means empowering people with disabilities to live and participate fully in their communities."

The Conference was opened by a video message from Heba Hagrass, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities. She acknowledged the importance of the Conference topic within her own work: “My objective is to highlight the interdependent connection between the enjoyment of human rights by children with disabilities and the enjoyment of human rights by families and caregivers, as most of the care and support given to children with disabilities is provided by their families.”

Next steps

The Turin Declaration will be transmitted to the European Commission, the European Parliament, and national governments as a contribution to future policy initiatives – including the follow-up to the European Care Strategy, the EU Disability Rights Strategy (2026–2030), and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Supporting Documents.

For more information, please contact:
Irene Bertana, Interin Head of Policy, EASPD

Note to editors:

The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) is the leading voice of disability services across Europe. Representing over 20,000 services in 50 different countries, we promote human rights and equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality support.

Our work focuses on key areas essential to quality support provision. This includes Inclusive Living, Employment, Education, Early Childhood Intervention, Person-Centred Technology, Workforce Development and Human Resources, Arts, Culture & Sport, and Policy Impact.

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