The EDF Women’s Committee has made significant progress in advocating for the rights and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities throughout 2024. It has continued to ensure that the voices of women and girls with disabilities are central to EDF’s policies, EU initiatives, and international frameworks.
Read the full 2024 report of the Women’s Committee (Word document)
Read the full 2024 report of the Women’s Committee (PDF document)
Their key highlights from 2024:
- 2 meetings of the Committee, in March (in Poland) and October (online) 2024.
- Advocacy on the rights of women and girls with disabilities in EU initiatives on combating violence against women, victims’ rights and harmful practices, and campaign to ban forced sterilisation.
- Launch of the EDF’s third Manifesto on Women and Girls with Disabilities.
- Update of EDF internal Gender Mainstreaming Tool
- Publication of an updated version of EDF guide on engaging in the work of the Council of Europe’s Group of experts to end violence against women (GREVIO).
- 10 EDF Women’s Voice newsletters sent to over 580 subscribers.
Mainstreaming women’s rights in EU Policy
EDF Women’s Committee was actively involved in mainstreaming the perspective of women and girls with disabilities in EU policies. Some key actions included:
- Publishing a guide for the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights (FEMM), facilitating a meeting with its Chair, and contributing to the EU Commissioner hearings.
- In December, the Committee also organised a photo exhibition at the European Institute on Gender Equality’s Gender Equality Forum, promoting both EDF manifesto and mainstreaming the rights and requirements of women and girls with disabilities in what will be remembered as one of the most accessible and inclusive events on gender equality.
Combating violence and forced sterilisation
The Women’s Committee remained committed to advocating for an ambitious EU Directive on combating violence against women, and working on a transposition guide for EDF members. Following our campaign to ban forced sterilisation, Malta became the 10th EU country to criminalise forced sterilisation.
Human rights and international advocacy
In March 2024, EDF and the Women’s Committee launched their third manifesto, focusing on leadership, empowerment, and participation of women with disabilities. The event gathered advocates to discuss leadership and active participation, in politics and beyond.
As part of its campaign to end forced sterilisation, the Committee collaborated with lawyers to update legal research and criticised the EU’s failure to address forced sterilisation comprehensively.
It also engaged in important international advocacy, including peer exchanges on UN human rights reporting, and contributed to EDF’s alternative report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Networking and representation
The Women’s Committee actively participated in external networks and representation. Members represented EDF at various events, including at the European Economic and Social Committee, and at the European Day of Persons with Disabilities. It also maintained a strong presence in advocacy groups focused on sexual and reproductive health, women in politics, and ending violence against women.
Communication and outreach
The Women’s Committee’s communication efforts remained a priority, ensuring that the voices of women and girls with disabilities are heard. In addition to the Women’s Voice newsletter, EDF webpage on gender equality was updated, providing vital information and mapping women’s disability networks across Europe.