Inclusion Europe members came together for a General assembly meeting in Glasgow. The GA approved our annual reports, elected new Board members, and discussed what is next in our work for full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and families in Europe.
Jyrki Pinomaa, president of Inclusion Europe, welcomed our members to the 2024 General assembly. The meeting took place 8 May in Glasgow, as part of Europe in Action conference.
Jyrki Pinomaa talked about some of the work we did in 2023:
- Inclusion indicators report;
- Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference;
- Training for self-advocates and family members which took place in Rome.
Jyrki Pinomaa thanked all our members for their contributions to the work of Inclusion Europe.
László Bercse, chair of the European Platform of Self Advocates and vice-president of Inclusion Europe, presented EPSA work in 2023:
- Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference, which took place in Tallinn;
- Make it real! self-advocates’ manifesto from Tallinn;
- Self-advocates representing Inclusion Europe at conferences.
László also presented the results of EPSA survey about how are self-advocates represented on the boards of Inclusion Europe members:
- 30 members from 23 countries answered the survey;
- Some organisations have good arrangements participation at board level;
- Some organisations need to improve how they include self-advocates in their boards;
- EPSA will continue to work on improving self-advocates’ participation.
Annual report 2023 was approved by the General assembly.
The General assembly also elected new members of the Board.
Elected to the Board of Inclusion Europe were:
- Jeanne Nicklas-Faust, nominated by Lebenshilfe (Germany).
- Cristina Schiratti, nominated by Anffas (Italy).
- Guillaume Jacquinot, nominated by Inclusion Ireland.
- Camille Latimier, nominated by Inclusion Czechia.
Anastasiya Zhyrmont’s term at the Board came to an end.
During a Board meeting the following day, Guillaume Jacquinot was elected as Secretary General of Inclusion Erope.
Ana Martínez, from Spain, was re-elected to EPSA Steering Group during the EPSA General meeting earlier on the day.
Other topics at the GA
Milan Sverepa, director of Inclusion Europe, described how we are going to work to end segregation of people with intellectual disabilities, and isolation of their families in Europe.
Raisa Kravchenko, representing VGO Coalition, talked about situation in Ukraine for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Raisa thanked Inclusion Europe and our members for their support during the war.