World Down Syndrome Day

Bucharest, March 20th 2014. Tomorrow, March 21st, thousands of parents of children with disabilities will make themselves visible.

At the initiative of European Centre for the Rights of Children with Disabilities (ECRCD), and with the support of the members of the coalition ''One Voice for Disability'' (OVD), thousands of persons around the country will wear tomorrow a purple ribbon around their arm.

''This is a symbolic gesture inspired by similar organizations in the United States, and is a way through which parents of children with disabilities, relatives, friends and supporters show that we exist, we love a child with disability and our rights must be respected.'', declared Mădălina Turza, president of ECRCD.

The action is part of a larger campaign promoting the rights of children with disabilities in Romania, campaign that is being carried on by ECRCD and OVD Coalition from the beginning of 2013.

In this regard, in Bucharest and in the country, members of OVD coalition will organize on Friday, 21^st of March 2014, a number of events through which we wish to draw attention to the need for substantial change in the system of protection of children with disabilities, that currently generates widespread abuses and discrimination, especially, on the access to education line.

Amongst the events organized by OVD coalition members, we mention the following:

1. Bucharest - ''D.A.R.E- Dignity, Access, Respect, Education. Dare to fight for their Righst!'' Conference - which will take place on Friday, 21^st of March 2014, at the National Romanian Library, in Mircea Vulcanescu room, at 10 am- organized by ECRCD in partnership with CJR and Romanian-American University.

2. Iasi – Various activities implemented in more schools in the county to inform and promote the rights of children with disabilities – project organized by Future Generation Association.

3. Cluj – Floresti – Information and promotion for the rights of children with disabilities event in Pollus Center Mall – organized by Unheard Voices Association and Jasmine Association.

4. Valea Jiului - Public event of information and promotion of the rights of children with disabilities - Centrul Policino - Down Valea Jiului Association.

For details and information:

București

Madalina TURZA

E-mail: madalina.turza@cedcd.ro/old

Mob: +40737545955

www.cedcd.ro/old

Iași

Oana STRATULĂ

Future Generation Association

0747941484

Cluj

Unheard Voices Association

Mirela CRIȘAN

0744781300

Valea Jiului

Liviu Corseanschi

Down Valea Jiului Association

0762292619

About The One Voice for Disability Coalition

The coalition is an initiative of European Centre for Rights of children with disabilities that formed in February 2013.

The purpose of the coalition is to promote a new bill to protect the rights of children with disabilities, in accordance with the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is designed to replace obsolete and unsubstantial existing laws and regulations on children with disabilities, which generate abuses and discrimination.

Currently, the Coalition brings together over 50 NGOs from 21 counties, all with a mandate in the field of disability with focus on children. The organizations member in the coalition are all civil society entities made up of parents with children with disabilities.