BE ONE IN A MILLION WITH BOWLES

2.30.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 8th Feb 2007

Lib Dem MEP for the South East, Sharon Bowles, is today calling for local people to join her in adding their name to a campaign to combat discrimination against disabled people.

The petition campaign, run by the European Disability Forum, aims to collect at least one million citizens' signatures to combat discrimination in all aspects of the lives of disabled people in Europe.

Under a clause in the draft European Union Constitutional Treaty, the European Union must respond to the call of at least 1 million citizens. Although the treaty has not been adopted this number is still taken as an important milestone in pressing for EU action.

Local MEP Sharon Bowles said "This is an important campaign. Disabled people face social and physical barriers every day in our society. Many disabled people overcome these hurdles, but we must be more alert to these issues, and take action to remove these barriers."

"I would urge local residents to join this call for action, by signing the online petition at www.1million4disability.eu to help end this unfair and unjust discrimination."