LT Disability Forum

Association Lithuanian Disability Forum - the biggest platform of organizations in Lithuania representing people with disabilities and their families.

[LT Disability Forum @Disability_LT]

Extremely proud of Dovile Juodkaite, previous long-term president of Disability_LT, being nominated and campaigning to the UN#CRPD as representative of disability #NGO.

[LithuaniaUN🇱🇹 | #StandWithUkraine @LithuaniaUNNY]

What an intensive and meaningful three days it has been for Lithuania’s 🇱🇹candidate to the UN #CRPD, Ms. Dovilė Juodkaitė. Meetings, bilateral exchanges and a reception brought together many important voices committed to advancing the #rights of persons with disabilities. 🤝 The discussions clearly showed that achieving meaningful progress requires strong political will, greater #awareness and continued efforts to change attitudes towards disability #inclusion.

If elected to the UN CRPD, Ms. Dovilė Juodkaitė would advance the following priorities:
❗️Empowering Mothers with Disabilities
❗️Ensuring Safety and Rights in Emergencies
❗️Promoting Access to Justice

[LithuaniaUN🇱🇹 | #StandWithUkraine @LithuaniaUNNY]

In the margins of #CSW70, 🇱🇹 Permanent mission to @UN together with the Ministry of Social Security&Labour of Lithuania hosted the side event “No Woman, No Mother Left Behind” on disability-inclusive responses to #GenderBasedViolence, highlighting the specific risks&barriers faced by women&mothers with disabilities.
We sincerely thank 🇺🇦 Deputy FM @Mariana_Betsa and @UKRinUN for co-sponsoring the event and for sharing important insights on advancing protection and support for women affected by violence.
🇱🇹Minister J. Zailskienė stressed the need for accessible, survivor-centred support systems for women with disabilities and introduced 🇱🇹 candidate to the UN #CRPD Committee D. Juodkaitė.
🇱🇹PR @rytispaulauska underscored the importance of recognizing disability-specific patterns of violence and strengthening inclusive protection systems, particularly as wars leave many women with newly acquired disabilities.
We thank the panelists @giuliabarbucci @erika_schlaeppi Ms Hannah Guedenet, Ms Amanda McRae and Ms Maulani Rotinsulu for their valuable contributions to this important discussion

[Lithuanian Permanent Mission in Geneva @LtGva]

Lithuania’s candidate to the UN Committee on the Rights of #PersonsWithDisabilities, D. Juodkaitė, sincerely thanks the Geneva community for the substantive discussions. 🇱🇹🇺🇳
Priorities:
- Empowering mothers with disabilities
- Safety in emergencies
- Access to justice

[Lithuanian Permanent Mission in Geneva @LtGva]

Safety is a right, not a privilege. #HRC61 Discussion on protecting #PersonsWithDisabilities in natural disasters and armed conflicts. Event organized by Lithuania, together with 🇳🇿🇲🇽, joined by @Disability_LT D. Juodkaitė, @UNDRR E. Wahlström, T. Waheed & @WHO F. Hanna. ♿️

[LT Disability Forum @Disability_LT]

So important support of #Lithuania's Government to the long-time president of @Disability_LT Dovile Juodkaite as a candidate to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, advocating for the protection and promotion of rights of #PersonsWithDisabilities

[LithuaniaUN🇱🇹 | #StandWithUkraine @LithuaniaUNNY]

🇱🇹PR @rytispaulauska and Lithuania’s candidate to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Ms Dovilė Juodkaitė, sincerely thanks Ambassadors, election officers and human rights experts for open, inclusive, and substantive discussions. These exchanges highlighted the importance of diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.

During the meetings, Ms Juodkaitė emphasized the main priorities of her campaign:
👉Empowering Mothers with Disabilities;
👉Ensuring Safety and Rights in Emergencies;
👉Promoting Access to Justice.
Lithuania's candidate also underscored the need for inclusive policy making, strengthened international cooperation and feasible, implementable recommendations to remove barriers and ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society

[European Disability Forum @MyEDF]

On International Day of Persons with Disabilites #IDPD, we denounce ongoing attacks on funding for civil society.

Adequate funding is key to this defending our rights.

We call on the EU and its countries to reverse this trend.

Read: https://t.co/SqfCmLBASb

[Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC @CSOGroupEESC]

📸#CSOInitiative 'Motherhood & #Disability' @Disability_LT shares the real stories of 7 🇱🇹 mothers. No heroisation, no pity, just everyday challenges/love/strength. A call for better support for mums with disabilities. Dovilė JUODKAITĖ in our #CSObulletin👉https://t.co/8acqYYgiSQ

[LT Disability Forum @Disability_LT]

Panelists emphasised the importance of involving self-advocates in all the policy and legal reforms from the very beginning, ensuring accessible process, information and content. Training for all stakeholders on the right to legal capacity and support to all #Pwd #RightToDecide

[European Disability Forum @MyEDF]

Panellists on the second panel discussed promising practices and the challenges of ensuring countries adopt supported decision-making:
- Involve self-advocates in developing and implementing laws.
- Ensure easy-to-read texts

Check @InclusionEurope: https://t.co/idRA1XYHlW

#RightToDecide

[European Disability Forum @MyEDF]

Ahead of our Annual General Assembly in Vilnius, we are turning the spotlight on Lithuania!

In this edition of our #DisabilityVoice newsletter, we take a closer look at the state of disability rights in the country:
➡️ Key data and figures
➡️ A blog by our member @Disability_LT on progress and remaining gaps
➡️ Tips to explore Vilnius in an accessible way

https://t.co/WWfVYgL7C6]

[LT Disability Forum @Disability_LT]

Our conference "Right to Decide: Legal Capacity and Pathways to Reform" is starting in Vilnius as part of @MyEDF AGA. Right of legal capacity is an essential for human dignity, autonomy, the freedom to lead a full life. #RightToDecide

[European Disability Forum @MyEDF]

Our Conference on #TheRightToDecide starts now!
The President @Disability_LT Indrė Širvinskaitė, pointed out that this right was declared on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights signed in 1948 - but still not implemented for persons with disabilities.

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[EESC Social Affairs @EESC_SOC]

A delegation from the @EU_EESC is attending #cosp18. Today our member Dovile Juodkaité is speaking at the #CSF2025 on how #AI can be of help or be an obstacle for the inclusion of persons with #disabilities

[EESC Social Affairs @EESC_SOC]

On 2-3/4 @EU_EESC #FundamentalRights & #Ruleoflaw Group visited #Albania & heard from civil society on:
▫️ social partners
▫️ civic space
▫️ media freedom
▫️ equality
▫️ rule of law

Find the delegation statement here:https://t.co/fRb4Z5TI30
👁️ EC report: https://t.co/WnxQInNQKM

[Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC @CSOGroupEESC]

29.2% of ♀️ in the EU have a disability. They are 2 to 5 times more likely to experience domestic violence but the proposed EU directive does not ⛔️ violence, such as forced sterilisation.
Dovilė Juodkaitė #WomensRights #DisabilityRights #EESCPlenary
📄 https://t.co/7k9xFBoGS8

[Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC @CSOGroupEESC]

#AI offers persons with disabilities #PWD opportunities in education/employment/society
⚠️Without proper #accessibility they risk discrimination. Involving them in all stages of design is critical for a more inclusive future! Dovilė Juodkaitė #EESCplenary����https://t.co/xDHgh5l05S

[LT Disability Forum @Disability_LT]

Our international cooperation coordinator Dovile Juodkaite as co-rapporteur of @EU_EESC Opinion on Violence against women highlights disproportionate risk of violence against women with disabilities and need for eesential mental health services for victims of domestic violence.

[EESC PRESS @EESC_PRESS]

The #EESCPlenary has adopted the @EESC_SOC opinion on Violence against women as a human rights issue.

Rapporteur @Jamorenod and co-rapporteur Dovilė Juodkaitė explain the importance of this text in this #ReportingFromPlenary video.

Read more here 👇
https://t.co/wB6Ty4Hmsy

[Hadja Lahbib @hadjalahbib]

Persons with disabilities must have the same opportunities as everyone. No ifs, ands, or buts.

I will be a tireless champion for their full inclusion in our societies.

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[Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC @CSOGroupEESC]

1.4 million #PWD still live segregated in institutions in the 🇪🇺EU, where they are too often neglected/abused.

They are an important target group to benefit from affordable/sustainable #housing, but also accessible, taking into account their needs!🗣️Dovilė Juodkaitė
#EESCPlenary

[Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC @CSOGroupEESC]

The indices clearly show that inequalities are widespread. The political and legal situation of people with disabilities should not be forgotten. We must implement the initiative that are on paper.
Dovilė Juodkaitė @Disability_LT #EESCPlenary #UnionOfEquality #EUDisabilityRights

[European Disability Forum @MyEDF]

The #EUAccessCityAward winner of 2025 is...

Vienna!

Commissioner @helenadalli says Vienna is "a standout example of how large cities can effectively integrate accessibility in urban life!"

#EDPD2024 @EU_Social