ELISAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2026

ELISAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2026

“Empowering Communities: Disability Inclusion and Volunteering for Social Change”

7th Annual Technical Meeting of the Inclusive Cities for Sustainable Families Project.

15-17 June 2026, Valencia

​

​

The ELISAN General Assembly 2026 was successfully held in Valencia from 15 to 17 June 2026 under the Presidency of Maria José Rico Llorca, President of ELISAN, Director of the Valencian Institute of Social Services (IVASS), and Coordinator of the ENSA Disability Working Group.

​

The event was organised with the support of the Generalitat Valenciana, the 50th Anniversary of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe and the International Year of Volunteering. It brought together over 100 stakeholders,  elected representatives, policymakers, researchers, practitioners, civil society organisations, and persons with disabilities from across Europe to exchange experiences and promote innovative policies and projects fostering inclusion, participation, and social cohesion.

​

The Assembly, entitled “Empowering Communities: Disability Inclusion and Volunteering for Social Change”, was held in conjunction with the 7th Annual Technical Meeting of the Inclusive Cities for Sustainable Families Project, creating a unique opportunity to connect discussions on disability inclusion, volunteering, family-friendly policies, and sustainable local development.

​

Throughout the three-day programme, participants explored ways to strengthen the inclusion of persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, highlighting the importance of empowering communities through active citizenship, volunteering, and innovative social policies. Particular attention was given to the implementation of the European Disability Rights Strategy 2021–2030.

​

The first day focused on the exchange of good practices within the framework of the Venice Declaration, showcasing local and regional initiatives that promote family-friendly and inclusive communities. The second day was dedicated to the ELISAN General Assembly, where members discussed current priorities, future activities, and opportunities for enhanced cooperation across Europe. The final day, hosted jointly by the POLIBIENESTAR Research Institute of the University of Valencia, Prof. Dr. Jordi Garcés-Ferrer and ELISAN President Maria Jose Rico Llorca – included study visits and expert discussions from 9 universities  on social wellbeing, prevention, addictions, and community resilience.

​

A key outcome of the General Assembly was the strengthening of ELISAN’s governance structure and membership base. Members unanimously welcomed the accession of the Comunidad de Madrid to the network and its appointment as Vice-President of ELISAN. The Assembly also unanimously  approved the nomination of  the new Regional Minister, Paola Roma (Veneto Region, Italy) as Vice-President of ELISAN, further reinforcing the network’s commitment to strong regional leadership and European cooperation in the field of social inclusion.

​

The General Assembly also marked an important expansion of the network through a formal signing ceremony for new members joining both ELISAN and the Venice Declaration for Family-Friendly and Inclusive Policies. New institutional members included local and regional authorities from Italy and Spain, while a significant number of professionals, researchers, universities, healthcare organisations, and social service providers joined the network.

​

These new memberships reflect the growing recognition of ELISAN as a leading European platform for cooperation among local and regional authorities, researchers, practitioners, and civil society organisations committed to building more inclusive, resilient, and family-friendly communities.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​

​

​

​​

​​

​

​

​​