On 5 November 2024 Kera Foundation organised the launch event of the Strategic Litigation Guidebook. This event marks an important step in supporting persons with disabilities in pursuing their rights through strategic litigation. Validity Foundation led the drafting process of this Guidebook which should serve as a valuable resource for persons with disabilities and organisations interested in understanding and engaging with litigation processes related to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Key points covered in the Guidebook include: 

• Definition of Strategic Litigation: Understanding what constitutes strategic litigation and identifying strategic cases 

• Considerations for Litigation: Important factors to consider when advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities. 

• Historical Context: Insights into how these rights have been strategically litigated at international levels. 

• EU Perspective: The EU’s approach to the rights of persons with disabilities and the potential of the EU Charter in this area. 

• Examples of Successful Litigation: Notable cases based on the EU Charter before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). 

• Engagement with the CJEU: How to bring cases to the CJEU and the interaction between it and the European Court of Human Rights. 

• Areas of Focus: Identifying legal areas that are favorable for charter-based litigation concerning persons with disabilities. 

• Building Litigation Pathways: Strategies for creating effective litigation pathways that leverage the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. 

The launch event in Sofia benefited from the presence of persons with disabilities and of organisations of persons with disabilities. Among them, Mr. Mitko Nikolov, from the Center for Independent Life-Sofia declared:  

“We, at the Center for Independent Life – Sofia, as a full advocacy organisation of people with disabilities, are fully aware of, apply for, and advocate for people with disabilities to lead strategic cases for the protection of their human rights. Over the years, we have also used and will continue to use strategic advocacy in our fight for quality public policies.” 

The Strategic Litigation Guidebook is downloadable here.

The Guidebook was drafted with the kind support of the European Union, as part of LITI-GATE project (LITI-GATE – Strategic Litigation as a Gateway to address the rights of Persons with Disabilities in the European Union). It brings together 6 partners from 5 countries, namely Victim Support Europe (VSE), Project coordinator; European Network on Independent Living; Forum Pro Lidska Prava, ZS, Czechia and Slovakia; Fundatia Centrul De Resurse Juridice (CLR/CRJ), Romania; Kera Foundation, Bulgaria and Validity Alapitvany- Kozpont A Mentalis Serulek Jogaiert, Hungary. With LITI-GATE we aim to promote the enforcement of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights through strategic litigation.

This project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.