The EDF Women’s Committee includes women with disabilities and mothers of persons with disabilities. They shape the policies and priorities of EDF on women’s rights and help us mainstream gender in all our work.
The former Women’s Committee mandate ended in June 2022 and a new Committee was formed in September 2022. The Committee recently adopted its work plan 2023-2026, including list of activities for 2023.
2022 achievements
- 2 meetings of the Women’s Committee took place, and an online training was organised for the newly formed Committee.
- EDF advocated for the rights of women with disabilities in several initiatives of the European Union, such as the Pay Transparency Directive and the proposed Directive on combating violence against women.
- EDF organised an event on the Future of Women and Girls with Disabilities, as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe, also reflecting on the 25 years of EDF.
- EDF adopted a declaration on women and girls with disabilities at its General Assembly with a proposition to launch the preparation of a new EDF’s Manifesto on Women with Disabilities to be published in 2023.
- EDF adopted and published several reports, briefings and infographics relevant to women and girls with disabilities:
- Report on trafficking of persons with disabilities, with specific recommendations, to contribute to the review of the EU anti-trafficking directive
- Report on forced sterilisation in the European Union
- Recommendations on employment of women with disabilities
- Briefing for the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO)
- Infographic on female genital mutilation (FGM) and disability, with the organisation EndFGM
- EDF supported 3 of its members with the review of their countries (France, Iceland and Portugal) by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
- EDF sent 10 Women’s Voice newsletters to over 300 subscribers.
Read the full Women’s Committee 2022 report.
2023 work programme
The Women’s Committee will continue its ongoing work on a variety of issues important for women and girls with disabilities.
In 2023, the Committee will be involved in legislative and policies issues such as the negotiations of the directive on combating violence against women, the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention, the revision of the Victims’ Rights directive, and the initiatives related to the Employment Package (part of the EU Strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities).
The Committee will also be involved in the preparation of the 3rd EDF Manifesto on women and girls with disabilities, and will continue to campaign on ending forced sterilisation in Europe.
For more information refers to the 2023 work programme.
Documents
- EDF Women’s Committee work plan 2023-2026 (Word document)
- EDF Women’s Committee work plan 2023 (Word document)
- EDF Women’s Committee 2022 report (Word document)
Contact
Marine Uldry – EDF Human Rights Policy Coordinator
marine.uldry@edf-feph.org