2) The Women’s Committee:
Fighting Abuse
The
Women’s Committee is working to raise awareness of abuse against all disabled
women, including lesbians, Black and minority ethnic women and users/survivors
of the mental health system. We are campaigning for changes in national and
local policies and practices to ensure that abuse is recognised and that action
is taken to stop it.
If you would like to be kept informed about the
Women’s Committee and our work, contact us at the UK Disability Forum for
European Affairs, Alexander House, 85 Frampton Street London
NW8 8NQ. Tel: 020 7725 4242. Fax: 020 7725 4201. Email: cashmore.ukforum@virgin.net
Changes We Would Like to See
- Everyone who is likely to come into contact with disabled
women, including NHS, police, local authority and voluntary sector workers,
should be given training to make them aware of how to recognise abuse and
how to give help to women experiencing abuse.
- Everyone dealing with women experiencing and escaping
from abuse, including NHS, police, local authority and voluntary sector workers,
should be given training in disability equality. This training should be delivered
by disabled people.
- All services and information for women experiencing
and escaping from abuse should be made fully accessible, including access
for women with physical and sensory impairments, women with learning difficulties
and users/survivors of the mental health system.
- All refuges and other temporary accommodation for women
escaping from abuse should be made fully accessible, including access for
women with physical and sensory impairments, women with learning difficulties
and users/survivors of the mental health system.
- All legal assistance for women escaping from abuse
should be made fully accessible, including access for women with physical
and sensory impairments, women with learning difficulties and users/survivors
of the mental health system.
- Everyone dealing with women experiencing and escaping
from abuse, including NHS, police, local authority and voluntary sector workers,
should keep records about disability.
- All disabled women should be offered appropriate training
in assertiveness skills and activities aimed at raising self-esteem. This
should be led by disabled people.
- All disabled women should have access to advocacy and
counselling organisations led by disabled people.
- Disability organisations should carry out audits of
the provision available for disabled women in their area.
Next: Getting
and Giving Help to/from Friends and Family
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