World Down Syndrome Day 2025: From Projects to Policies – Including People with Down Syndrome in Europe

27 January 2025

Brussels, Belgium — On March 19, 2025, EU for Trisomy 21 invited by various Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), will host a major event in the European Parliament to mark World Down Syndrome Day. This year’s theme, “From Projects to Policies: Including People with Down Syndrome in Europe,” aims to foster a more inclusive Europe for individuals with Down syndrome where their opinions are taken into the European policy debates.

As part of broader efforts to raise awareness and engage local communities, this event will serve as a key milestone in the European Self Advocacy Project, an Erasmus+ sponsored initiative dedicated to empowering individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities. It will also launch Belgium’s local multiplier event, bringing together youth workers, educators, and advocates to further the project’s mission of transferring impactful results to stakeholders at all levels.

The day will kick off at 10:30 AM with a special coffee service, where waiters with Down Syndrome will showcase their professional skills as servers for the day in the official coffee places of the European Parliament. They will be working in the VoxBox bar and Mickey Mouse Cafe in the European Parliament. This collaboration provides a platform for people with Down syndrome to demonstrate their professional abilities to European legislators, highlighting the importance of employment opportunities and the contributions individuals with Down syndrome bring to the workforce.

MEPs will also have the chance to visit an information stand to take a picture showing their support to World Down Syndrome Day, wearing mismatched socks, raising awareness on how people with Down Syndrome may be different but still they enrich our society.

At 12:30 PM, the event will have an official opening with a brief ceremony hosted by our supporter, MEP Miriam Lexmann, alongside a self-advocate. Various Members of the European Parliament are invited to join, take pictures with attendees, and engage in conversations with self-advocates and partner organizations present.

The afternoon will be dedicated to a conference starting at 2:00 PM in Room ASP 1H1, focusing on key issues such as equality, health, employment, and self-advocacy for people with Down syndrome. The conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and self-advocates to discuss successful projects, research, and future EU policies that promote full inclusion, autonomy, and opportunities for people with Down syndrome.

The conference will be co-hosted by MEPs Romana Jerkovic and Paolo Inselvini.

Key Speakers and Panelists Include:

  • Romana Jerkovic MEP & Paolo Inselvini MEP (Opening Remarks)
  • Fiona & Katrina Lambart (European Self-Advocates Project)
  • Brigitte Fauroux, MD (Respire 21 Project)
  • Rafael de la Torre (ICOD Project)
  • Dinka Vukovic, President of EDSA (European Down Syndrome Association)
  • Guillaume Duriez, Director of the Jérôme Lejeune Medical Institute
  • Self-Advocates sharing their personal stories and insights

The event will conclude with a dynamic Q&A session, offering attendees the chance to engage directly with speakers and discuss the critical steps needed to move from successful individual projects to coherent, systematic, and serious public policies that ensure people with Down syndrome are fully included as equal citizens in Europe.

What:
World Down Syndrome Day Celebration – “From Projects to Policies: Including People with Down Syndrome in Europe”

When:
March 19, 2025
Coffee Service: 10:30 AM
Ceremony: 12:30 PM
Conference: 14:00 PM

Where:
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
Vox Box bar and Mickey Mouse bar
Room ASP 1H1

This event will emphasize the need for the European Union to move from supporting individual projects to implementing comprehensive, long-term policies that have a profound impact on the lives of people with Down syndrome. The focus will be on ensuring equal opportunities, full inclusion in healthcare, political participation, and employment, and fostering accessible environments for people with Down syndrome. It will highlight the valuable contributions of people with Down syndrome and stress the critical role the EU must play in fostering a more inclusive Europe through systematic and effective policies.

Taking place as part of a 30-day online awareness campaign leading up to World Down Syndrome Day, this event further reinforces the visibility and impact of the European Self Advocacy Project across Europe. Through media outreach, online advocacy, and local engagements, the campaign highlights the need to move beyond isolated initiatives and toward long-term policies that promote full inclusion and equal opportunities for people with Down syndrome in employment, healthcare, and political participation.

About World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day, observed annually on March 21, is a global event to raise awareness about Down syndrome and promote the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in all aspects of society. The celebration advocates for equal rights, healthcare, and opportunities for people with Down syndrome, while encouraging greater understanding and inclusion.

For media inquiries or additional information, please contact: contact@eufortrisomy21.eu

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