On the 3rd December 2008 Los Verdes de Orihuela are launching a campaign entitled “Dignidad para los Discapacitados” as part of the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and in line with the European Green Party Guiding Principles.
The objective of the ongoing campaign is to assist and support all citizens of, and visitors to, the Orihuela Municipality who have disabilities, to experience with the highest level of dignity a quality of life as free from discrimination as is possible. This is compatible with the purpose of the UN Convention as defined in Article 1 "to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity".
The campaign will provide the means for a two way dialogue between Los Verdes of Orihuela and the citizens of the Orihuela Municipality including Orihuela Costa and Las Pedanias on matters that effect the lives of persons with disabilities.
When Los Verdes are made aware of problems experienced by disabled persons we will act with them, or on their behalf where appropriate, to try rectify the situation. This may require contact with the Ayuntamiento and or Businesses to remind them of their responsibilities towards persons with disabilities, and to put forward constructive suggestions of action that they (government and companies) could take to remedy any shortcomings in this aspect.
We will use all methods available to us, including newspapers, television, radio and the Internet to inform all the public of news that may effect the quality of life for disabled persons. Two Internet Blogs are being published, one entitled Dignity for the Disabled, in English, and the second entitled dignidadparalosdiscapacitados.blogspot.com in Spanish. Each will be a mirror image of the other in the relevant language. In addition there are email addresses for both languages, dignityforthedisabled@gmail.com and dignidadparalosdicapacitados@gmail.com .
As mentioned in the background section the European Union 2008-2009 DAP focuses on accessibility and therefore as part of the initial action of the campaign Los Verdes would like, with the help of the citizens of Orihuela Municipality to tackle the problem of substandard levels of accessibility. Any failure in the provision of ease of accessibility stops persons with disabilities from accessing the environment, transportation, public facilities and services. Restricted or limited access to a range of public, commercial, and private premises is a major problem, as is movement along, to and from public footpaths, as is entry and exit to public transport of all kinds for persons with limited or assisted mobility. This presents a daily barrier against leading a full an active life. It is thought that 50% of disabled persons have never participated in leisure or sport activities, and that one third of the disabled population has never travelled abroad or even participated in day-excursions as a direct consequence of inaccessible premises and services. Many disabled people suffer from isolation as a direct result of poor access facilities.
Los Verdes would like members of the public to send them evidence of facilities in the Orihuela Municipality that fall below the standards suitable for persons with reduced mobility. This could include the lack of ramps where needed, ramps that have been installed having too steep a gradient, obstacles placed in front of ramps, obstacles placed on or in pavements preventing free movement, public transport that is not usable by disabled persons, and similar examples. Photographs or information accompanied with details of location can be sent by email to either of the campaign addresses or handed to members of Los Verdes at the regular fortnightly Los Verdes Councillor's surgery held at the Celtic Isle bar and pool in Playa Flamenca. If this is not possible then telephone 965319660 (English) or 965328190 (Multilingual) and alternative arrangements for receipt of the information can be considered.
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The above is an extract of the article on the campaign Blog. The full article is a little longer than usual as it is a copy of the package that was recently released to the local non-Spanish Press. I hope you are able to spare the time to read it as it contains the background information referred to in the extract.
We hope you feel able to support the campaign in any way possible. If you have any knowledge of incidences within the Orihuela Municipality of discrimination towards persons with disabilities which effects the dignity and quality of life we are interested to learn of them. This could be by personal experience, or by family, or by friends. Contact can be by email or telephone.
Elliot Sampford
The objective of the ongoing campaign is to assist and support all citizens of, and visitors to, the Orihuela Municipality who have disabilities, to experience with the highest level of dignity a quality of life as free from discrimination as is possible. This is compatible with the purpose of the UN Convention as defined in Article 1 "to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity".
The campaign will provide the means for a two way dialogue between Los Verdes of Orihuela and the citizens of the Orihuela Municipality including Orihuela Costa and Las Pedanias on matters that effect the lives of persons with disabilities.
When Los Verdes are made aware of problems experienced by disabled persons we will act with them, or on their behalf where appropriate, to try rectify the situation. This may require contact with the Ayuntamiento and or Businesses to remind them of their responsibilities towards persons with disabilities, and to put forward constructive suggestions of action that they (government and companies) could take to remedy any shortcomings in this aspect.
We will use all methods available to us, including newspapers, television, radio and the Internet to inform all the public of news that may effect the quality of life for disabled persons. Two Internet Blogs are being published, one entitled Dignity for the Disabled, in English, and the second entitled dignidadparalosdiscapacitados.blogspot.com in Spanish. Each will be a mirror image of the other in the relevant language. In addition there are email addresses for both languages, dignityforthedisabled@gmail.com and dignidadparalosdicapacitados@gmail.com .
As mentioned in the background section the European Union 2008-2009 DAP focuses on accessibility and therefore as part of the initial action of the campaign Los Verdes would like, with the help of the citizens of Orihuela Municipality to tackle the problem of substandard levels of accessibility. Any failure in the provision of ease of accessibility stops persons with disabilities from accessing the environment, transportation, public facilities and services. Restricted or limited access to a range of public, commercial, and private premises is a major problem, as is movement along, to and from public footpaths, as is entry and exit to public transport of all kinds for persons with limited or assisted mobility. This presents a daily barrier against leading a full an active life. It is thought that 50% of disabled persons have never participated in leisure or sport activities, and that one third of the disabled population has never travelled abroad or even participated in day-excursions as a direct consequence of inaccessible premises and services. Many disabled people suffer from isolation as a direct result of poor access facilities.
Los Verdes would like members of the public to send them evidence of facilities in the Orihuela Municipality that fall below the standards suitable for persons with reduced mobility. This could include the lack of ramps where needed, ramps that have been installed having too steep a gradient, obstacles placed in front of ramps, obstacles placed on or in pavements preventing free movement, public transport that is not usable by disabled persons, and similar examples. Photographs or information accompanied with details of location can be sent by email to either of the campaign addresses or handed to members of Los Verdes at the regular fortnightly Los Verdes Councillor's surgery held at the Celtic Isle bar and pool in Playa Flamenca. If this is not possible then telephone 965319660 (English) or 965328190 (Multilingual) and alternative arrangements for receipt of the information can be considered.
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The above is an extract of the article on the campaign Blog. The full article is a little longer than usual as it is a copy of the package that was recently released to the local non-Spanish Press. I hope you are able to spare the time to read it as it contains the background information referred to in the extract.
We hope you feel able to support the campaign in any way possible. If you have any knowledge of incidences within the Orihuela Municipality of discrimination towards persons with disabilities which effects the dignity and quality of life we are interested to learn of them. This could be by personal experience, or by family, or by friends. Contact can be by email or telephone.
Elliot Sampford
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