Casa calls for anti-bullying campaign focused on challenges of persons with intellectual disabilities

Meets Maltese Special Olympics athletes

Maltese Member of the European Parliament and Head of the PN Delegation David Casa on Wednesday welcomed a group of Special Olympics Malta athletes and coaches for a meeting focused on celebrating their sporting achievements and strengthening inclusion for persons with disabilities across the European Union.

Casa praised the athletes for their commitment and success, saying their performances on the field and in international competitions “show the very best of Malta – resilience, teamwork and the power of inclusion.”

After understanding the experiences and challenges the athletes had overcome Casa stated: “There is a great need for a comprehensive anti-bullying campaign specifically targeting the challenges faced by people with intellectual disabilities. No one should face harassment or exclusion. We must tackle bullying head-on, in our schools, workplaces and communities, so that every person with an intellectual disability can live and participate with dignity and confidence.”

The discussion also highlighted key EU initiatives to support persons with disabilities, in particular the European Disability Card, which will guarantee recognition of disability status across all Member States.

“The Disability Card is a major step forward,” Casa noted. “It will give persons with disabilities the freedom to travel and access services across Europe without unnecessary barriers.”

Casa also underlined the EU’s continued investment in inclusive sport through programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) which he had negotiated in the last legislature, which has the combatting of social exclusion as one of its objectives.

“Special Olympics Malta embodies the EU’s core values of dignity and equality,” Casa concluded. “These athletes are powerful ambassadors for inclusion and a reminder of why we must keep breaking down barriers for persons with disabilities everywhere.”