It is estimated that 1 in 5 women is a woman with disabilities. All over the world women and girls with disabilities continue to face multiple and intersectional discrimination in all areas of life, from segregation and institutionalisation, to violence, socio-economic disadvantages, and inadequate healthcare.
Several international human rights treaties exist to protect their rights, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). These Conventions are complemented by agreements called Optional Protocols. They establish individual complaints mechanism for individuals or groups of individuals who have seen their rights violated in their country.
This online workshop organised jointly by the International Disability Alliance and the European Disability Forum will inform participants on the role and functioning of the Optional Protocols, as tools to defend the rights of women and girls with disabilities.
Speakers will include representatives and legal experts from the Officer of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Disability Alliance, the International Women’s Right Actions Watch Asia Pacific and Validity Foundation. The workshop will be introduced and moderated by Ana Pelaez Narvaez, Vice President of the European Disability Forum and member of the CEDAW Committee.
Objectives
- Introduce the UN Optional Protocols and their importance to protect the rights of women and girls with disabilities
- Explain how individuals and organisations can bring complaints to UN Treaty Bodies such as the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
- Present specific examples of complaints and inquiries received by UN Treaty Bodies
Accessibility
The webinar will provide International Sign interpretation, real-time captioning (English) and audio interpretation in French and Spanish. The webinar will be recorded and shared later for those who cannot join.