Right to Independent Living: Deinstitutionalisation and Alternatives

• Jurisdiction: European Union
• Year: 2025

Speaker

Kamil Goungor is the founding Chair of i-living, established in 2014 as Greece’s first organization dedicated to the Independent Living movement. Born in Greece to Polish parents, he studied journalism and communication in Athens. Since 2018, he has worked as Policy and Movement Support Officer at the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), advocating for the rights of disabled people across Europe.

Kamil has held key leadership roles in youth disability advocacy, including serving as Chair of the European Disability Forum’s Youth Committee and as a member of the Youth Committee of the International Disability Alliance until late 2022.

Beyond his organizational work, Kamil is an experienced public speaker, panel moderator, and trainer, regularly contributing to international conferences on disability and human rights. He is also known as Greece’s only disabled travel blogger, using his platform to raise awareness about accessibility, inclusion, and the importance of independent living.

Topic

In this EU-presentation, Kamil Goungor, Policy and Movement Support Officer at the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), explores the right to independent living with a focus on deinstitutionalisation and alternatives. The presentation begins with a definition of Independent Living, emphasizing self-determination, choice, and equal access to services, rooted in the social model of disability.

The presentation provides an overview of ENIL’s key campaigns, including the Freedom Drive and European Independent Living Day, and outlines the 12 foundational pillars of Independent Living—such as personal assistance, accessible housing, inclusive education, and healthcare. Goungor highlights Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the CRPD Committee’s General Comment No. 5, emphasizing legal obligations to provide community-based, individualized support.

A significant portion...