The WHO/Europe governing body endorsed the Bucharest Declaration on the health of children with intellectual disabilities

Children with intellectual disabilities are very vulnerable. The World Health Organisation has a document. This document says what needs to be done so that children with intellectual disabilities in Europe are in good health and enjoy their rights. You can read the document here.  Senada Halilcevic works with Inclusion Europe. She helped to do the document. She also shared her story of leaving the institution to live in the community.

On 15 September, World Health Organisation’s Regional Committee for Europe formally endorsed the European Declaration on the Health of Children and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families.  The resolution was adopted after the representatives of 53 member states heard a powerful testimony of Inclusion Europe’s Board Member – Croatian self-advocate Senada Halilcevic.

The Declaration was launched in November last year at a conference in Bucharest. As part of the WHO initiative Better health, better lives: children and young people with intellectual disabilities, it aims to improve health care and enhance lifelong development, inclusion and full participation of children with intellectual disabilities in society. Read more..

9 months after the launch, WHO/Europe’s highest decision-making body endorsed the document during its annual session held on 12-15 September 2011 in Baku, Azerbajian. The Declaration has thus been recognised by 53 member states, giving it greater authority.

Senada Halicevic was a member of steering group drafting the Declaration. She lived in the institution until the age of 30. In her video testimony, she explains the process of leaving the institution and re-entering the life in the community.

“Powerful testimony by self-advocate Senada Halilčević, a young person with intellectual disability, filmed at the conference in Bucharest and shown in plenary today, explained the life-enhancing improvement of living in the community”, says the official communication at the WHO/Europe website.