Include Me TOO, a national (United Kingdom-based) charity celebrate their 10th Anniversary this year, the charity also developed the first ever National Charter of Rights for Disabled Children and Young People 10 years ago. The Charter received support by many national charities, government departments, government ministers and Prime Ministers signing up as signatories and providing statements of support for the charter in 2008.
Include Me TOO an award winning charity has led on disabled children and young people, and their families, from a diverse range of backgrounds participation and inclusion for over a decade, with innovative and creative approaches. The charity is committed in promoting and supporting social justice, equality, inclusion and the rights of disabled children and young people.
This year London is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)2018 and the Commonwealth Forums Summit is one of the forums being held during the week commencing April 16th 2018. During the summit the first ever Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable Event has been organised by the charity as part of the‘Commonwealth Include Me 2’ joint project led by Include Me TOO with the Commonwealth Youth Council to increase the inclusion, rights and participation for disabled children and young people from the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) represents 1.2 billion young people from across 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
The roundtable event is taking place at the House of Lords, on Monday 16th April 2018 as an official side event for the Commonwealth Forums Summit 2018and hosted by The Hon Baroness Uddin and The Hon Lord Holmes.
‘I’m a passionate supporter of improving life chances and opportunities for disabled people to live the life they want to lead. I know many other Queens Young Leaders, Commonwealth Youth Award nominees, and Associate Fellows of the Royal Commonwealth Society, agree with me – with disability being the issue most prioritised by Queens Young Leaders when last surveyed. There is real passion among young people to make a positive change, and the institutions of the Commonwealth must channel that passion into real action.’ said Jonathan Andrews – Queens Leader and Young Ambassador (Include Me TOO)
There will be presentations by disabled young people representing the Commonwealth discussing the Global Sustainable Developmet Goals (SDG’s) including disabled young Ambassadors, Lucy Watts, Jonathan Andrews, Saliha Rashid, Paul Ntulila, Vibhu Sharma and Honey Jones representing Include Me TOO. Young people will be sharing their views and perspectives from their countries regarding issues affecting disabled young people and increasing representation and involvement of disabled young people in the Commonwealth.
‘We are delighted to have the support of the Commonwealth Youth Forum and the Commonwealth Youth Council as we host a momentous roundtable event strengthening the application of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and building upon the National Charter of Rights for Disabled Children and Young People we produced with young disabled people which gathered many signatories from government and NGO’s a decade ago. Being the first Commonwealth Disabled Youth roundtable and providing them with an international platform to share their views and be heard is certainly a positive move for progress, inclusion and participation. We are looking forward to the event with all our partners and building upon the aim of this occasion with the Commonwealth.’ said Parmi Dheensa – Include Me TOO Executive
For further information please contact us via Email: dot@includemetoo.org.uk
Contact number: 01902 399888/01902 711604
