The EBU 2016 work programme (in short, “REC16”) dispatched activities into four main categories: campaigning, reports, capacity-building and communication.
Campaigns
In 2016, our campaigning work continued in a wide range of policy areas, including the Accessibility Act as our members pursued collaboration with the European Commission, partner NGOs across the EU, as well as MEPs and governments to ensure that, once it is published, the European Accessibility Act is 'fit for purpose'.
As for Access to books, EBU and The World Blind Union (WBU) campaigned for the EU to complete the ratification process of the WIPO “Marrakech treaty to Improve Access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled”, urging the Commission to quickly resolve the legal questions about the way ratification should work.
The EU Accessible Websites Directive was adopted on 02 December thanks to our campaign to ensure that all policy makers understand that most people now consume web content on mobile devices and through apps - and that for visually impaired users apps are often the easiest way to access a service or information.
Regarding Silent vehicles EBU continued to lobby for the prohibition of a pause switch, the installation of a stationary sound and a minimum sound level which enables pedestrians to detect the presence and operation of a moving vehicle.
And regarding the accessibility of payment terminals, we continued lobbying for standardization and accessibility of payment terminals on a European level, in particular through the newly-established Pay-Able European platform.
Reporting
EBU continued its analytical reporting work in 2016. This included the production of a new UNCRPD report on article 28 “Adequate standard of living and social protection”. Also, in collaboration with ICEVI-Europe, EBU produced a report of a pilot survey among Erasmus+ and Disability Coordinators as well as a report on accessible Universities for Erasmus+ Students with Visual Impairment.
Capacity Building
In terms of capacity building, EBU continued to reinforce the capabilities of its members in different areas, including a second e-workshop on "Accessible Payment Terminals'”. Members campaigning skills were reinforced through a new Twitter masterclass in Brussels with a view to equipping members of the EBU campaigns network with skills on how to directly interact through Twitter as individuals with EU legislators and national governments on issues of importance to EBU while a second training course on the EU policy-making process was also held in Paris.
In terms of youth employability, young visually impaired job seekers were trained in how to improve their employability in Tirrenia, Italy. They then organized 2 short national training sessions on the same topics.
We continued to promote gender equality through a follow-up to the 2015 EBU publication entitled 'The Future We Want' (pdf English, pdf Spanish), with a training course held in Paris on 28in October with EBU Board and staff members and an e-workshop for EBU members on 8 December, aiming to promote gender equality mainstreaming.
Information and Communication
Last but not least, on the communication front, EBU pursued efforts to raise both its profile and general awareness of key issues affecting blind and partially sighted people. This included the production of a video to raison awareness on low vision and help national members promote and lobby for the implementation of the 10 minimum standards on low vision rehabilitation. A publication was also produced to raise awareness on the UNCRPD. Aimed at visually impaired citizens, it describes the UNCRPD and the enforcement mechanisms that can be used if they consider their rights have been denied.
Greater details on these and other activities can be found on the corresponding page of the EBU website.
These activities were co-funded by the "Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme" of the European Union.