ENAT and GAATES Sign Memorandum of Understanding

ENAT and GAATES are pleased to announce the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding.

The agreement will pave the way to closer cooperation in the promotion of policies and implementing projects to enhance the social, economic and cultural participation of people with disabilities and older persons around the globe.

The European Network on Accessible Tourism (ENAT) is a philanthropic association under Belgian law, created for an unlimited period with the aim of promoting accessible tourism on a non-profit-making basis. The purpose of ENAT is to further the development of accessible tourism, as a means to greater social inclusion, at an international level. Its objectives are: to coordinate actions in support of the tourism activities of its members; to inform them on any subject relating to accessible tourism, in terms of its technical, economic, social, legal and cultural aspects; and to disseminate information concerning accessible tourism to the wider community.

Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) is an International not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of accessibility of the built, social and virtual environments, so that people with disabilities and older persons are able to fully participate and contribute to society.

ENAT and the Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) are pleased to announce the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations.

In view of the shared vision of ENAT's mission and GAATES's mission, the two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the following respects:

* The promotion, dissemination of understanding and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol;
* The promotion and implementation of accessibility as part of the building, adaptation, re-construction and operation of sustainable built, social and virtual environments;
* The promotion and implementation of accessibility as an integral part of sustainable development;
* The transfer of knowledge and capacity-building through jointly presented workshops and training programmes;
* The promotion of effective communication through the provision of alternative formats, telecommunications and electronic information and communication technology products.

ENAT and GAATES agree to work together to support each other's objectives and mission to improve the social, economic and cultural participation of people with disabilities and older persons by building a society accessible for all.

ENAT President, Lilian Müller and GAATES President, Betty Dion will formally confirm the MoU at the ENAT International Congress in Vienna on 1st October 2009.

Visit the GAATES Website: www.gaates.org