On 6 May 2025, the European Blind Union (EBU) office in Paris had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from one of its member, the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (Norges Blindeforbund https://www.blindeforbundet.no). The visit was part of the NABP's project titled "Think Globally, Act Locally", aimed at promoting the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the municipal and grassroot level across Norway. The project also seeks to better understand how the European Union (EU) influences national and local policies in Norway.
Composition of the Delegation
The delegation led by former WBU president and NABP Senior adviser Arnt Holte, was composed of board members and representatives from two of NABP’s local branches. The participants had a foundational knowledge of the CRPD and human rights, having participated in prior seminars on these subjects. However, they were not experts in the field, and the programme in Paris was tailored to reflect a more introductory level of information on key topics.
EBU Hosting Team
Lars Bosselman (Director), Antoine Fobe (Head of Advocacy and Campaigning), Valerie Bertrand-Vivancos (Membership Officer), Fillaricea Gill (Administrative Assistant) organised the meeting, its programme and logistics.
Programme and Content
The visit took place at the EBU premises located in Paris from 10:00 to 16:00. The agenda included the following components:
- Welcome and Introductions
- Presentation on the Application of the CRPD in France
Delivered by Bachir Kerroumi Ph.D., University Professor, researcher in inclusive urban resilience and president of the Paul Guinot Association (which promotes the social and professional inclusion of blind and partially sighted individuals through specialised training and support services).
His intervention provided concrete examples of CRPD implementation in France, highlighting both challenges and best practices. His academic background and practical insights added significant value to the session.
Simultaneous interpretation was provided by Valerie Bertrand-Vivancos, EBU Membership Officer and Arnt Holte and to facilitate engagement and understanding.
- Presentation of the NABP’s Work
Presented by Arnt Holte, this session gave an overview of the "Think Globally, Act Locally" project. The aim is to establish contact persons for CRPD implementation in 32 municipalities throughout Norway. This grassroots approach emphasised the importance of local-level action in human rights advocacy. - Introduction to the EBU
Lars Bosselmann, EBU Executive Director, provided a general overview of the EBU’s structure, history (notably its founding in Norway in 1984), and mission to promote the rights of blind and partially sighted people in Europe. - EBU Advocacy and Campaigning
Antoine Fobe, Head of Advocacy and Campaigning at EBU, delivered a presentation on the Union’s strategic advocacy work. This included a focus on its efforts to ensure the CRPD is effectively implemented at EU level and its influence on EU legislation and policy. He explained to what extent EU laws and policies were relevant for Norway in the context of the European Economic Area.
Reflections and Outlook
The event succeeded in providing the Norwegian delegation with a well-rounded perspective on how the CRPD is applied in France, how the EBU functions and advocates at the EU level and beyond, and how these insights could be translated into local Norwegian contexts.
This visit marked an important step in international cooperation and knowledge exchange on disability rights. It underscored the shared commitment of both the EBU and the NABP to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities through both national and local action. The EBU remains open to future collaboration with its Norwegian member and looks forward to supporting similar initiatives that bridge policy, advocacy, and practice across Europe.