In Meschede: 300 people fight for inclusion and equality!

In Meschede: 300 people fight for inclusion and equality!

On May 9, 2025, an impressive protest march took place in Meschede, Germany, under the motto "Future Festal Festival Figure". Around 300 people took part in the event, which set a strong sign for the inclusion and equality of people with disabilities. Led by the words on the inviolability of human dignity from Article 1 of the Basic Law, the participants kept banner and posters with powerful messages such as "Inclusion begins in the heart" and "Our world is colorful, let us experience them together". The Sauerland courier reported this.

The protest march led from the train station through the city center of Meschede, over the Ruhr Bridge to information and participation. Ferdi Lenze, the voluntary disability officer, emphasized the importance of the high number of participants for the visibility of diversity and the pursuit of inclusion. "The more people take part in the protest, the more clearly the demand for an open society is emphasized," said Lenze.

political demands and human rights

The protest fell together with the European Protest Day for the equality of people with disabilities, which has been a central component of the discussion about inclusion for over 30 years. According to Institute for Human Rights the need to promote inclusion is becoming increasingly urgent. Britta Schlegel, the head of the monitoring office of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities, said: "Inclusion is a human right, and the design of an inclusive society is on the state mandate." This urgent message was also loudly represented in Meschede.

The event was not only a sign of solidarity, but also an invitation to the federal government, the states and municipalities, to actively work for the participation of people with disabilities. People in Germany are still facing numerous barriers, both in the labor market as well as in the education system, in health care and access to barrier-free living space as well as for cultural and leisure activities.

perspectives and challenges

At the event, Pia Liesem also spoke, who emphasized the importance of experiencing the problems of people with disabilities themselves. This corresponds to the overarching goal of identifying and eliminating barriers. Stephan Schmidt, another speaker, added that inclusion for an open society stands and that it was necessary to fight for better education, equal opportunities, accessibility, working conditions and participation.

The motto of the year "We are 10 million - human rights are not negotiable!" illustrates the urgency of these concerns. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether the political managers maintain the necessary pressure in order to actively achieve progress in inclusion and to actively combat discrimination, as in the reports from Institute for Human Rights and the href = "https://www.presseportal.de/pm/51271/6025607"> Presseportal highlighted. The movements that result from such dynamic protests could be the key to a fairer and integrative society.