On International Women’s Day, the EDF Women’s Committee calls on leaders and policymakers across Europe to commit to ensuring the rights of women and girls with disabilities in all their diversity, with a focus on empowerment and leadership in line with the Third EDF Manifesto on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities.
Women and girls with disabilities constitute a significant portion of the European population. Approximately 25.9%, of women in the European Union have a disability and women make up 60% of the overall population of 100 million persons with disabilities in Europe. Yet, they continue to face systemic marginalisation and barriers, often leading to the neglect of their voices.
Women and girls with disabilities in all their diversity are calling the European Union and the governments to:
- Their full participation as voters and as candidates for all elections – including for the European Parliament, and at national and local levels.
- Meaningful inclusion and leadership in decision-making, including by enhancing accessibility measures for the participation of women and girls with disabilities in all issues.
- Increased visibility and awareness of and for women and girls with disabilities. The rights of women and girls with disabilities should be mainstreamed and visible in the work of the European Union and across Europe.
- Concrete targeted actions to reduce the poverty level faced by them, including through equal employment and pay measures, and ensuring the amount of disability allowances received by women and girls with disabilities are kept regardless of employment status or the financial means of their partners and families.
- Implementation of the EU Directive on combating violence against women and the end of forced sterilisation of women and girls with disabilities across Europe
- Funding of organisations and projects that support the empowerment, leadership and improvement of rights of women and girls with disabilities.
EDF and the Women’s Committee commit to actively engage with relevant stakeholders to implement these objectives and demands.
About the Committee
The Women’s Committee of the European Disability Forum (EDF) is dedicated to advocating for the rights of women and girls with disabilities in the Europe.
Resources
- Third EDF Manifesto on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities
- 1 page summary (Word document) – Third EDF Manifesto on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities