This workplan guides the European Disability Forum’s work on women’s rights and gender-equality and the activities of the Women’s Committee for 2024.
It is based on the Committee’s 2023-2026 Work Plan and EDF’s overall European Commission’s grant work programme.
In 2024, the EDF Women’s Committee should:
Action area 1 – mainstream the perspective of women and girls with disabilities in EU policies and EDF’s work
- Ensure the perspective of women and girls with disabilities is included in the advocacy on the European elections and towards new policy makers at the European Parliament and European Commission. Example of action: to promote the third manifesto and organise a meeting of the Women’s Committee and the newly elected members of the European Parliament Women’s Rights Committee (FEMM).
- Update EDF’s gender mainstreaming tool developed in 2015 and raise awareness about it among EDF’s members.
Action area 2 – combating violence against women and girls with disabilities
- Continue the advocacy for the adoption of the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, to ensure inclusion of the perspective of women with disabilities.
- Collect good practices on services for women with disabilities who are victims of violence across Europe and publish a short overview on EDF’s website.
Action area 3 – advancing the human rights of women and girls with disabilities
- Organise an online event on political participation of women with disabilities prior to the European elections in March 2024.
- Continue our campaign on ending forced sterilisation, including through a peer exchange webinar on national advocacy.
- Contribute to the CEDAW’s General Comment no 40 on inclusive and equal participation of women in decision-making system, for example through an official consultation of European women with disabilities.
- Contribute to a hearing of the European Economic and Social Committee on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women with disabilities – in June 2024 TBC.
Action area 4 – Women’s Committee position papers, statements and other documents
- Official launch and promotion of EDF’s Third Manifesto on women with disabilities, including translation in different languages by members of the Committee.
- Publication of a factsheet on the outcome of the 2023 EDF survey on women with disabilities in Europe.
Action area 5 – monitoring international human rights treaties relevant to women and girls with disabilities
- Support the reporting to the CRPD and CEDAW Committees.
- Support the reporting to the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), including by the publication of guide for organisations of persons with disabilities on engaging with the GREVIO.
- Contribute to the EDF’s alternative report for the EU review by the CRPD Committee (expected in 2025).
Action area 6 – networking
- Organise an exchange with Polish organisations working on the rights of women and girls with disabilities, during a meeting of the women’s committee in Poland.
- Search opportunities to develop a joint European project with the engagement of national organisations of women with disabilities.
Action area 7 – external representation
- Provide support to play an active role in European Women’s Lobby governing bodies and working groups.
- Explore other external representation of the women’s committee in activities organised by the women’s movement and EU policy makers.
Action area 8 – communication
- Publish and advertise the EDF Women’s Voice newsletter.
- Regularly update the pages on gender equality and women’s rights on the EDF web site with further information on women and girls with disabilities.
- Publish communication for key dates, including the International Women’s Day (March 8th), International Day of the Girl Child (October 11th) and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25th).