InfoCons and Inclusive World Foundation : A Partnership for a Society Where Inclusion Becomes Possible
InfoCons and Inclusive World Foundation : A Partnership for a Society Where Inclusion Becomes Possible
InfoCons – European Organisation for Consumer Protection continues to strengthen its international partnerships and commitment to promoting consumer rights, accessibility, inclusion and human dignity through cooperation with organisations dedicated to developing meaningful initiatives at national and international level.
An important step in this direction is the Cooperation Protocol signed on 28 October 2026 between InfoCons – European Organisation for Consumer Protection, represented by its President, Sorin MIERLEA, and Inclusive World Foundation (IWF), a non-profit organisation established in Bulgaria.
Through this partnership, InfoCons brings its more than two decades of experience in consumer protection, public information and participation in national and international initiatives, supporting the development of joint activities aimed at promoting accessibility, mobility, inclusion and equal opportunities.
The collaboration provides a framework for exchanging expertise, sharing best practices and identifying opportunities for joint initiatives, contributing to the development of an international network of organisations committed to protecting fundamental rights and fostering a more accessible and inclusive society.
This partnership reflects InfoCons’ ongoing commitment to strengthening international cooperation and promoting initiatives that place people, their rights and their well-being at the centre of sustainable development.
An Inclusive Society Begins with Understanding Barriers
According to official data from Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute, the 2021 census identified 654,547 people with officially recognised disabilities, including more than 22,000 children. Current figures reported at European level indicate that more than 700,000 people in Bulgaria have officially recognised disabilities.
Beyond their statistical significance, these figures represent individual realities and everyday challenges that deserve to be understood and addressed.
For people with disabilities or reduced mobility, activities that most people take for granted can present significant difficulties: accessing a public institution, entering a restaurant or other service premises, using public transport or simply moving independently through an urban environment.
Sometimes the barrier is visible: a staircase, a doorway that is too narrow or a ramp with an unsuitable gradient. At other times, it is less obvious: a lack of information, administrative procedures, the absence of adapted services or an insufficient understanding of individual needs.
From the perspective of Inclusive World Foundation, inclusion cannot be reduced to the mere provision of technical accessibility features. It requires that every person has a genuine opportunity to participate in community life with independence, safety and dignity.
From Awareness to Shared Responsibility
Inclusive World Foundation believes that improving accessibility and protecting consumer rights, including the rights of consumers with disabilities, are complementary responsibilities that do not rest solely with public authorities or specialised organisations.
Equal access to goods, services and information is an essential aspect of consumer protection. From this perspective, removing physical, informational and organisational barriers contributes not only to social inclusion but also to the effective exercise of the rights of people with disabilities as consumers.
Public institutions, businesses, service providers, non-governmental organisations and community members can all contribute, within their respective areas of activity, to identifying and removing barriers that limit the participation of people with disabilities.
Not all measures aimed at promoting inclusion require substantial investment. Some begin with a change in perspective, by listening to the experiences of those affected or reconsidering practices that have long been taken for granted.
Inclusive World Foundation encourages everyone who manages premises, provides services or makes decisions affecting the community to ask themselves one simple question:
What could we change, within our means, to enable more people to participate in community life on equal terms and with dignity?
The answers to this question may provide the starting point for future inclusion initiatives.
Making Inclusion Possible
Guided by its motto, “Mobility. Access. Dignity.”, Inclusive World Foundation seeks to promote an approach to inclusion based on understanding real needs, dialogue, cooperation and the identification of practical solutions.
The principle “Making inclusion possible” reflects this commitment: inclusion should not remain merely an ideal expressed in documents and declarations, but should become a tangible reality in everyday life.
The partnership with InfoCons provides the Foundation with an important source of support in this endeavour, bringing together the experience of an established European organisation and the aspirations of a new civic initiative with an international outlook.
For Inclusive World Foundation, the journey begins with listening, understanding and building trust. And every barrier we come to understand can mark the beginning of a solution.
About InfoCons
InfoCons – European Organisation for Consumer Protection was established in 2003 to address the needs of consumers. Since its establishment, InfoCons has maintained continuous activity, gaining recognition at both national and international levels. The organisation is a member of various organisations, advisory committees and working groups, and serves as a partner in national and international programmes.
InfoCons is the only organisation in Romania with full membership in Consumers International and is actively involved in the work of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) Observatory, and ANEC – The European Consumer Voice in Standardisation. InfoCons is also a founding member of the Federation of Consumer Associations.
About Inclusive World Foundation
Inclusive World Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in Bulgaria, headquartered in Silistra and dedicated to activities in the public interest. The Foundation promotes mobility, accessibility, social inclusion, equal opportunities and respect for human dignity, while seeking to foster cooperation among organisations, institutions and communities at European and international levels.
Mobility. Access. Dignity.