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News and Information
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information of interest to disabled women in the United Kingdom (UK). We update
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On 15 May 2004, the European Disability Forum meeting at its Annual General Assembly Warsaw passed a comphrehensive resolution on the human rights of disabled women and girls and the mothers of disabled children, and decided to transmit it to all relevant stakeholders at National, European and international level. Click here to read the resolution.
Green Paper on Equality and non-discrimination in an enlarged European Union (June 2004) - public consultation running from 1 June to 31 August 2004. Five years ago, huge impetus was given to the fight against discrimination in the European Union when new powers were granted to tackle discrimination on grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age, disability and sexual orientation. This Green Paper sets out the European Commission's analysis of the progress that has been made so far, and seeks views about how the EU can continue and reinforce its efforts to combat discrimination and to promote equal treatment. In so doing, it responds to calls from the European Parliament and others to organise a public consultation on the future development of policy in this area. Responses to this Green Paper will be collected principally using an on-line questionnaire. The Green Paper and the public consultation questionnaire are available on the DG Employment and Social Affairs website http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamental_rights/greenpaper_en.htm
Details of how the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) will work are set out in a recent White Paper. The government announced plans to create a single body to challenge discrimination and promote human rights last October. The CEHR will bring together the work of the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission. It will also take responsibility for new laws outlawing discrimination in the workplace on grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion or belief. The White Paper is at: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/equality/project/project.htm
A Member of the European Parliament blocked voting on a report into "Human Rights in the World in 2003 and EU Policy on the Matter" because he wanted the chapter on the rights of disabled people to be deleted. The European Disability Forum (EDF) was also informed that Mr Gahler opposed to the report because "including a chapter on disability will make the notion of Human Rights, a commonplace". In reply, Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum said: "Disabled people from all over the world face discrimination and violence on daily basis. The right to live is systematically denied to children with disabilities in many countries; others have to experience degrading and inhuman treatment in establishments and institutions. In many cases, abuses have resulted in the death of the victims. The European Parliament, the closest institution to European citizens, has to expose these violations and to protect the human rights of all people, whether they are women or men, people with disabilities or non disabled people."
The UK Government has published a new Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill which offers new protection to victims of violence. Courts will be able to order abusers to stay away from their victims even if they have been acquitted of any offence. Abusers who break 'non-molestation' orders will be arrested and face up to five years in imprisonment. There will be a new register for domestic violence offenders, similar to the sex offenders' register, and same-sex couples will receive the same legal protection as heterosexual couples. The Bill is unlikely to be passed before the summer recess, but will be carried over into the second part of the parliamentary sitting in September. Previous stages of the Bill can be found at: http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/allbills.htm
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into
force in May 2004. It introduces tough new penalties for sex crimes,
new offences to protect children and make it easier for juries to make fair
and balanced decisions on the question of consent. The Home Office has produced
a series of information leaflets on the changes.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/justice/sentencing/sexualoffencesbill/index.html
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/sexualoffences/index.html
UK parents who take their daughters
abroad to undergo female circumcision will face up to 14 years in jail under
new measures that have come into force. Home Secretary
David Blunkett said last year he would close a loophole in a 17-year-old act
banning the practice. Some ethnic minority communities have evaded the law by
arranging for girls to have the operation abroad. But the Female Genital Mutilation
Act means circumcision carried out outside UK borders will now be included.
A disabled woman says that she has never suffered more "hurt and humiliation" than in the year she spent as mayor of the London borough of Islington. Wheelchair user Doreen Scott found herself turned away from many important functions, or was forced to use the goods lift, because of lack of access. At the Queen's Garden Party, she had to be pulled into the grounds backwards by courtiers. "My worst experience was the New Year's Day parade, where I was left virtually on my own for hours while they held a party for guests upstairs."
On 18 February 2004 the European Disability Forum Women's Committee presented the "case" for disabled women at the European Parliament. Click here to read the transcripts.
The organisation Contact a Family has issued new research
on bringing up a disabled child which is overwhelmingly negative.
Findings include: nearly half (44%) of the respondents feel that having a disabled
child has caused problems in their relationships and nearly one in ten (9%)
feel that it had led to separation; over one in six (17%) are bringing up their
disabled child alone; of the 76 per cent who suffered stress or depression,
88 per cent linked it to having a disabled child. Similarly, of the 72 per cent
who cited tiredness and lack of sleep, 84 per cent attributed this to their
child's disability. Over half (51%) of parents have financial difficulties with
66 per cent linking this to having a disabled child. A third (32%) have problems
at work with 71 per cent of these parents linking it to their caring duties.
In asking what could have helped them, respondents overwhelmingly cited a break
or respite care. They also put high on the list emotional support/counselling
and support and information around diagnosis. It is extremely sad that both
the parents and the organisation Contact a Family appear to attribute these
difficulties directly to the disabled child, rather than to other people's prejudice,
discrimination and lack of practical and financial support.
The Department of Health has issued new guidelines on implementing the women's mental health strategy, following consultation. The guidance underlines that women are more likely than men to experience social isolation, poverty, child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The Equal Opportunities Commission is calling on the government to update Britain's 30-year-old sex equality laws. Commission head Julia Mellor says that legislation is needed to govern the way in which public bodies deliver services. An example would be that rural transport services should be obliged to cater for women who do not have cars but want to work.
The Government is considering increasing genetic screening programmes for pregnant women with the specific goal of reducing the number of babies born with learning difficulties. All pregnant women will be offered amniocentesis to detect Down's Syndrome, and women will be "counselled" to have abortions if tests show a risk of impairment. The British government already pressurises all pregnant women to undergo a range of tests for risk of impairment, accompanied by abortion counselling.
Eight out of ten women in Cornton Vale, Scotland's only women's prison, have mental health problems, according to the chief inspector of prisons. Nine out of ten have addiction problems, and sixty per cent have been abused.
A major review of social work across Scotland has been announced following the publication of two reports into the care of a woman with learning difficulties who suffered serious sexual abuse over a 30-year period. The Scottish minister for education and young people, Peter Peacock, also announced a new joint inspection regime for learning-difficulty services and said he would introduce a bill aimed at improving measures to protect vulnerable adults.
Women users/survivors of the mental health system who are imprisoned are increasingly likely to commit suicide. The Prison Reform Trust has reported that ten women prisoners killed themselves in the first six months of 2003, including four under-21-year-olds. In 2002 a total of nine women prisoners killed themselves.
The British Government has published a Green Paper on registration procedures for same sex couples. This is being called a Civil Partnership. The only major difference noticed with marriage is the lack of ability to void the legal side of the relationship because of lack of consummation.The Consultative document is available on the Women and Equality Unit website and 'How to respond' is on page 66 of the document.
In brief . . .
The United Nations has declared 2004 as the International Year of Women with HIV and Aids. Worldwide, more than 19 million women are infected with HIV, just under half of everyone affected. This is expected to rise to 70 per cent within the next ten years.
Almost a quarter of single female pensioners in the United Kingdom live in poverty. The Fawcett Society found that women got just 32p for every £1 received by men living as part of a couple.
Refugee women in the UK are suffering widespread mental distress because of fear of attack. One in two feel so depressed and anxious that they are unable to sleep at night, and many lock themselves indoors throughout the daytime in a self-imposed curfew.
According to research by Nacro, disabled people are four times likely to be the victims of violence and twice as likely to be burgled as non-disabled people.
A Deaf woman has been appointed to the Disability Rights Commission. Susan Daniels is chief executive of the National Deaf Children's Society.
The Women's National Commission has launched a campaign to encourage more women to apply for positions on health authorities, national committees and other public bodies. Find out more from the Public Life section of the WNC website.
Manifesto by Disabled Women in Europe Adopted in Brussels on 22 February 1997 by the European Disability Forum Working Group on Women and Disability. Launched in the European Parliament on 4 December 1999.
Liberty: London's Disability Rights Festival, Trafalgar Square, 4 September 2004, Free. One of the highlights of the 2004 Trafalgar Square summer programme, the festival will feature a high profile contemporary programme of disabled artists, musicians, dancers and performers from the UK and abroad. Additional attractions include stalls and displays from a variety of organisations. Organised by the Great London Authority (GLA) in association with Greater London Action on Disability (GLAD). A full programme and access details can be found on the GLA website www.london.gov.uk Alternatively, phone the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100.
European Social Forum, London, 15-17 October 2004. The ESF brings together a wide range of groups to discuss how to achieve global social justice for all. It will be an opportunity for women across Europe to network, debate and develop links. For more information visit www.fse-esf.org
Adorn, Equip Unique online version of a unique touring exhibition, where disabled people have joined with artists and craft makers to produce "couture" versions of disability aids and equipment.
Image courtesy of the CHANGE Picture Bank