People with disabilities will take to the streets in Vila Real, Braga, Guimarães, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Lisbon, and Faro for simultaneous actions starting at 3:00 PM.
A statement from the Organizing Committee of the March for Independent Living (COMVI) indicates that the 8th edition of this march aims to highlight diversity and demand the full implementation of the human rights of people with disabilities.
Established in 2018, this annual march is energized by 26 organizations and collectives associated with disability and social movements, seeking to amplify the voices of a frequently marginalized community.
Independent Living asserts that all individuals, regardless of disability, have the right to self-determination, dignity, and full inclusion in society.
“Dreams guide life, but we don’t just want to dream; we want to live,” the COMVI manifesto states, emphasizing that disability should be recognized as an expression of human diversity.
The manifesto, available online, has already been endorsed by around 30 organizations and 150 individuals.
COMVI’s main demands include access to personal assistance services, accessible housing, education, employment, healthcare, mobility, and an effective deinstitutionalization policy.
The committee calls upon not only people with disabilities but also their families, friends, and allies to join this “march for dignity, freedom, and equality.”
The gatherings will take place at Jardim da Estação (Vila Real), Avenida Central near the Bandstand (Braga), Largo do Toural (Guimarães), City Hall (Porto), Praça da República (Aveiro), Largo da Portagem (Coimbra), Avenida da Liberdade near the Teatro Tivoli (Lisbon), and Escola Secundária João de Deus (Faro).
While the European Day of Independent Living is officially observed on May 5, the actions in Portugal will occur on the preceding Saturday to ensure greater public participation.
