Architectural barriers in Rome, the first videos of Égalité

Roma Ostiense station finally accessible

25th June 2022

Public consultation on the EU strategic plan for global public health

16 July 2022

Published by Dario Dongo on 2 July 2022

Architectural barriers in Rome, the eternal trouble

35 years and 4 months ago, by 1.3.1987, all the Municipalities of Italy should have adopted the Plans for the Elimination of Architectural Barriers (PEBA). Roma Capitale, the first metropolitan city of the Bel Paese, third in Europe after Berlin and Madrid with 4.222.631 inhabitants (demographic balance 2021, ISTAT) - perhaps excels in the world for systemic inaccessibility. (1)

Million of people frail and with disabilities - also due to a demographic index in free fall, which is accompanied by an aging population (2) - are victims of unparalleled discrimination. A shame that integrates a blatant violation of the rights recognized to them by the Italian Constitution, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and applicable laws.

Égalité, the first series of videos

Égalité - with this first series of short films - aspires to promote a reform by stimulating the attention of the citizens of the world on the difficulties that an inaccessible environment causes to residents and visitors of the Eternal City. Without losing sight of their battles - even in judicial offices - against the responsible bodies, starting with the public transport company ATAC. (3)

Protagonists they are ordinary people, human beings whose status of 'invalidity' - a nineteenth-century term still in use at INPS (National Institute of Social Security) - derives from the interaction with a hostile environment, in the night of civilization full of steps and sidewalks without slides, tactile paths interrupted, inaccessible and unavailable public transport. A shame whose responsibility must be shared equally among all the mayors and presidents of the region who have succeeded each other for four decades.

Thanks

Thanks they go to Stefano Asaro (the Handsome, on the cover), Giuseppe Idone, Katia Savina, Alessandro Guastaferro for sharing their daily adventures. To ImpacTrip, a benefit company that organizes trips based on social missions and collaborates with Égalité. And above all to Claude Cadieux, graphic designer . who worked for many years in advertising agencies and academic institutions and came from Montreal (Quebec, Canada) to shoot and edit these videos. With the humble contribution of the writer, improvised director for congenital activism and extra when needed.

Good vision! #AbbattiLeBarriere! #Shame!

Dario Dongo