Proposal: Safeguarding dementia & other neuropsychological disorders patients’ and caregivers’ rights through strategic litigation in Europe
Proposed Implementation: 2026 to 2029
Call: CERV-2025-CHAR-LITI – Call for proposals to promote civil society organisations’ awareness of, capacity building and implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Topic: CERV-2025-CHAR-LITI
Type of Action: CERV-PJG- CERV Project Grants
Proposed Budget: 421 359,58€
Keywords: dementia, Strategic litigation, EU Charter, rights, neuropsychological disorders, seniors
Objective: Seniors with dementia or other neuropsychological disorders face some of the highest risks of rights violations in the EU, ranging from unequal access to services and healthcare, to neglect, abuse, and discrimination. Despite the protection offered by the EU Charter of fundamental rights, their rights often remain unrecognized or unenforced. Caregivers, who can play a crucial role in safeguarding these rights, frequently lack adequate knowledge and support to act as advocates. Most civil society organizations working with them have not yet used the potential of strategic litigation, thus missing an important opportunity to defend and promote their rights.
The project addresses this gap by empowering seniors with dementia or other neuropsychological disorders and their caregivers, while strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations, human rights defenders, legal professionals & practitioners, Ombuds Institutions, equality bodies & national human rights institutions to use the EU Charter for advocacy and strategic litigation.
The project’s impact will be threefold:
-Empowerment and dignity for seniors with dementia or other neuropsychological disorders, who will gain accessible tools (home toolkit) and dedicated support (rights advocators) to make their voices heard.
-Strengthened advocacy and protection by caregivers, volunteers, and professionals, who will act as “rights advocators” and ensure continuity beyond the project’s lifespan.
-Systemic change through capacity building of organizations, institutions & professionals across Europe, making rights enforcement a shared and ongoing responsibility.
By combining empowerment of individuals with structural capacity-building, the project will help transform awareness into action and action into systemic change, ensuring that the rights of seniors with dementia or other neuropsychological disorders are not only recognized in principle but fully enforced in practice across the EU.
Partners:
- Challedu Astiki Mi Kerdoskopiki Etaireia
- Health Citizens – European Institute
- Koinofeles Somateio Arogis Kai Frontidas Ilikiomeel
- Kentro Evropaikou Syntagmatikou Dikaio Idryma
- Erevnitiko Idrima
- Cooperativa Sociale Cooss Marche Onlus Societa
- Komiteen for Sundhedsoplysning