3rd EuroMed Conference on the Socio-Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
23 September, Barcelona. The Euro-Mediterranean region has made significant strides in advancing the rights and socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. Building upon previous engagements and studies, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the ONCE Social Group, and the Directorate-General for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Government of Spain will co-host the IIIrd Euro-Mediterranean Conference on the Socio-Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. This landmark event will convene government representatives, interntatonal organisations, civil society organizations and experts to validate the EuroMed Disability Agenda.
The conference is designed to draw from and validate the Theory of Change (ToC) for the EuroMed Disability Agenda, i.e. the strategic framework currently under preparation by the UfM, which will set out a roadmap for achieving meaningful socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities aligned with the provisions of, among others. the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the EU Consensus on Development.
The Conference will also reflect on outcomes from the previous two Euro-Mediterranean Summits (Barcelona, 2022, and Amman, 2024) and the Preliminary Study on the Socio-Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Euro-Mediterranean region, which represent the basis for the elaboration of the ToC.
2. Objectives
The IIIrd Euro-Mediterranean Conference aims to:
- Validate the Theory of Change: Engage stakeholders in a thorough review of the Theory of Change for the EuroMed Disability Agenda to ensure it is relevant, comprehensive, and actionable.
- Refine Strategic Priorities: Identify and prioritize key thematic areas and intervention strategies based on empirical data, stakeholder input, and lessons from past conferences, ToC, and the Preliminary Study.
- Build Consensus on Implementation: Develop a shared vision and commitment among stakeholders for the practical implementation of the EuroMed Disability Agenda, with an emphasis on cross-sectoral collaboration.
- Promote Policy and Programmatic Synergies: Encourage alignment with existing policies, programs, and initiatives within the Euro-Mediterranean region to strengthen the socio-economic inclusion framework for persons with disabilities.
- Discuss financial resources: In line with the provisions of the ToC and its governance structure, discuss the funding of the Agenda and of its foreseen initiatives.
