In 2025, EDF Women’s Committee continued to play a central role in advancing the rights of women and girls with disabilities across Europe.
Composed of 11 members and 4 observers from diverse backgrounds and countries, the Committee worked throughout the year to ensure that the voices, experiences and priorities of women with disabilities are fully reflected in EU policies, EDF’s work, and international human rights processes.
Key highlights from 2025:
- 2 meetings of the Committee, in February and October 2025.
- Input to and adoption of 4 key publications:
- EDF Gender Mainstreaming Package, composed of a self-assessment test on gender mainstreaming, the Guidelines for creating a Women’s Committee, the Guidelines for adopting a Gender Action Plan, and the Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit Template.
- EDF Guidance on the transposition of the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, and provision of related training.
- EDF position paper on gender stereotypes against women and girls with disabilities which was submitted to the CEDAW Committee, for their General Recommendation on gender stereotypes.
- EDF alternative report for the first evaluation of the EU by the Council of Europe’s Group of experts to end violence against women (GREVIO).
- Advocacy on the EU Roadmap on Women’s Rights to include the rights and requirements of women and girls with disabilities and on the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030.
- Advocacy on the rights of women with disabilities in EU initiatives on combating violence against women, victims’ rights and harmful practices, and campaign to ban forced sterilisation.
- 10 EDF Women’s Voice newsletters sent to 640 subscribers.
Gender mainstreaming and influencing EU gender equality policies
A key priority in 2025 was advocating for women and girls with disabilities to be explicitly included in EU gender equality frameworks.
The Committee called for the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in the EU Roadmap for Women’s Rights and provided input to the consultation for the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030. This included meetings with the European Commission’s Gender Equality Unit, engagement with Members of the European Parliament, participation in stakeholder consultations, and the submission of written recommendations.
These efforts strengthened EDF’s advocacy and reinforced the message that gender equality policies must be disability-inclusive by design.
On the other hand, one of the major achievements of 2025 was the publication of EDF’s Gender Mainstreaming Package, a comprehensive set of tools designed to support organisations of persons with disabilities in advancing gender equality in their structures, policies and activities. The Package includes a self-assessment test, guidelines on setting up Women’s Committees, a gender mainstreaming toolkit template, and guidance on developing a Gender Action Plan.
This publication marked the first outcome of the project “Nothing without us: Women with disabilities leading the change”.
The Committee also supported follow-up activities in the second half of the year, including an online exchange on the creation of women’s committees, a sub-granting programme for EDF members, and a national workshop in Poland aimed at strengthening cooperation between disability and women’s rights organisations.
Combating violence against women and girls with disabilities
In 2025, the Women’s Committee significantly contributed to EDF’s work on combating violence against women and girls with disabilities.
Following the adoption of the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, the Committee supported the development of EDF’s Guidance on the transposition of the Directive, for national organisations to advocate for strong, and more ambitious transposition. The Guidance was published in May, alongside a public online training attended by around 50 participants.
The Committee also played a key role in drafting EDF’s alternative report to GREVIO, submitted for the first evaluation of the EU’s implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The report highlighted persistent gaps and challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities across Europe.
Advancing human rights and challenging harmful practices
The Women’s Committee continued its broader human rights advocacy by publishing a position paper on gender stereotypes against women and girls with disabilities, submitted to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The paper exposed harmful myths and stereotypes and provided concrete recommendations to address them.
Members of the Committee also remained active in EDF’s campaign to end forced sterilisation, supporting research, public awareness, and advocacy at national and European level.
Building alliances and amplifying voices
Throughout 2025, the Women’s Committee strengthened its networks with women’s rights and disability organisations, including AGE Platform Europe, the European Women’s Lobby, and other EU-level networks. Committee members represented EDF in high-level events such as the Global Disability Summit, the European Day of Persons with Disabilities, and international human rights and climate policy forums.
Moreover, communication efforts continued, ensuring that the voices of women and girls with disabilities are heard. The Women’s Voice newsletter reached more then 640 subscribers!
Read the complete report below