Conference Europe in Action 2017: Love, life and friendship

In 2017, the “Europe in Action” conference will be jointly organised with Inclusion Czech Republic and will take place in Prague from 1-3 June.

The theme of the conference will be “Love, life and friendship”: Finding friends and partners is important for everyone’s wellbeing. However, people with an intellectual disability often face difficulties when establishing such relationships. Their families, on the other hand, might have hopes but also fears when it comes to this issue.

At the conference, we will listen to people with first-hand experience on the topic: people with intellectual disabilities themselves and their parents. The event will be a space for discussion, for exchanging opinions and sharing experiences of how to overcome certain barriers and worries. We hope that through the diversity of speakers, the conference will be a good opportunity for opening up new perspectives, raising awareness of the importance of these themes, and for potential cooperation.

Topics will include:

• Finding friends and establishing social networks
• Dealing with hate crime and deliberate befriending (mate crime)
• Dating
• Sexuality
• Motherhood
• Parenting
• Medical support for becoming parents
• Support by social services

A specific focus of this conference will be sexual violence:  We will invite relevant authorities to discuss what needs to change for people with intellectual disabilities to protect them from sexual assault (policies and procedures, training etc.).

The conference will bring together more than 200 people from across Europe. Part of the conference programme will be tailored to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities.

More information about the location, fees and the programme can soon be found at the conference website and the website of Inclusion Czech Republic.