The right to love and friendship

 

Click on a word which is in bold to read what it means.

Senada Halilčević is the Chair of the European Platform of Self-Advocates.

She is also Vice-President of Inclusion Europe.

Senada has written a text for a newsletter of the European Disability Forum.

Here is what she wrote:

 

 

Imagine that you fall in love with another person.

And the other person falls in love with you.

You become a couple.

And then you want to get married.

But it is not that easy.

You need to come before a judge.

The judge can decide if you can get married.

And he asks you: “What is love?”

 

This is a very difficult question.

Many people have written about it.

But they have not found the answer.

Why do you need to find an answer only because you want to get married?

 

I did not invent this story.

It is happening in some countries.

Many people with intellectual disabilities in Europe do not have legal capacity.

 

This means that they cannot vote,

they cannot sign contracts,

and they cannot get married.

It is often very difficult for people with intellectual disabilities in Europe

to find love.

 

And when they do, it is difficult for them to be with their partner.

Parents and siblings are afraid that something might happen to them.

Many people think that people with intellectual disabilities

should not have a partner.

I think that this needs to change.

 

Love is for everyone.

 

We need to make sure that people with intellectual disabilities everywhere in Europe

can get married.

 

We need to make sure that people change their opinions about

people with intellectual disabilities who have a partner.

 

I say it again: Love is for everyone.