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The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has opened an own-initiative investigation into the integration of disabled people. As the European Year of Disabled People draws to an end, the Ombudsman will investigate what measures have been taken by the European Commission to ensure that disabled people are not discriminated against in their relations with the institution. At this stage, the Ombudsman has decided to limit the scope of his inquiry to the Commission, in view of its central institutional role within the EU.
The Ombudsman wants to assess whether the Commission's actions
in this area are consistent with the institution's legal obligations and stated
commitments. Recognising the Commission's clear commitments towards people who
constitute one of the most disadvantaged groups in our society, the Ombudsman
said that: "The seriousness of their situation demands that the proclaimed
commitments be put into practice by means of effective actions. Good administration
requires prompt and effective action to implement these commitments." He
has therefore asked the Commission to inform him of:
- the actions it has taken or intends to take in order to ensure that disabled
people are not discriminated against, in their relations with the institution,
as well as
-the timetable for their adoption.
The Commission has been asked to respond by 29 February 2004. To ensure that
interested parties have the possibility to make their views known, if they so
wish, the Ombudsman will be informing relevant governmental and non-governmental
organisations of his own initiative inquiry and will be publishing all relevant
documents in a specially-created section of his website at: http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/disabilities/en/default.htm
Helga Stevens , Chair of the Disabled Women's Committee of the European Disability Forum, has sent the following letter to Commissioner Anna DiamantopoulouIn, with copies to Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, Director of DIRECTORATE G: Horizontal and International Issues and Barbara Helfferich, Member of Cabinet, responsible for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men.
Re : The EC Directive on gender equality in all areas, Brussels, 7 October 2003
Dear Commissioner,
The Disabled Women's Committee of the European Disability Forum is writing to you to express our disappointment that only a small part of the new EC Directive on gender equality is coming out and that the Directive is only covering the area of access to goods and services. We are aware that the idea of comprehensive legislation encountered a lot of opposition from different actors. We regret however the fact that, whereas the whole issue should have been a matter of debate within the entire European Union, including civil society, only a few actors were actually involved.
We think that an extensive directive is highly necessary in order to fight the discrimination that women face in all areas and disabled women especially and it should at least cover the following areas: access to and supply of goods and services; taxation; social assistance, social benefits and healthcare; education; taxation and non-discrimination in advertising and the media.
The adoption of this directive has been anticipated since the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999. We urge the European Union not to disappoint our hopes and through strong EU law to go forward in reinforcing and putting into practice the fundamental values on which it is based.
Confident in your support, I remain
Yours sincerely,
Helga Stevens
WOMANKIND Worldwide has produced a draft "shadow" report on violence against women in the UK. Every four years, the UK government is required to report on its implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the progress it is making on women’s human rights. The Shadow Reporting process gives women the chance to present the UN committee with our view of the UK government’s progress. WOMANKIND point out that: "Domestic violence is present across all cultures and socio-economic groups though groups particularly at risk are disabled women, younger women and women in lower-socio-economic groups." "A significant opportunity has been missed to provide a broader resource base and funding programme for intervention services that go beyond the refuge. Refuges are clearly essential services. However, the following essential areas also require support: . . .Specialist support services for disabled women." If you would like a copy of the draft report in order to make comments/additions, email genevieve@womankind.org.uk
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has recommended to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women that a thorough analysis of disabled women’s economic position in Northern Ireland is needed. The Equality Commission has also recommended that all public bodies provide statutory interpretation services to disabled women. The recommendations have been made under Article 13: Social and Economic Benefits.
British Government publishes Domestic Violence Green Paper Margaret Moran MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence, has congratulated the Government on taking a brave step forward with its publication of the Domestic Violence Green Paper. The Consultation document draws on the pioneering "Womenspeak" project by the All Party Group on Domestic Violence, where for the first time survivors of domestic violence went on-line to talk to MPs to tell them what needed to be done to help those who experience domestic violence.
Margaret Moran said the All Party Group on Domestic Violence which had helped set up the "Womenspeak" project had been one of the most active and influential all party groups in Westminster. She said: "This is an historic moment in eradicating domestic violence. It is the first time government has proposed legislation on domestic violence and the first time that survivors themselves have been able to talk to MPs directly to influence government policy in this way."
The consultation paper is available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Responses must be made by 12 September 2003. Disability organisations are being
specifically invited to respond, but the only mention of disability within the
document itself is in relation to what are described as being "vulnerable
witnesses". The Government does not so far seem to have listened to disabled
women!
An independent enquiry conducted at Broadmoor Special Hospital last year has revealed evidence of bullying, sexual harassment and intimidation of women patients. The report followed a claim by a former manager that three women had committed suicide after claiming sexual abuse by male patients. Most male patients at Broadmoor have committed serious offences, while the small number of women patients have either committed no crime or have been imprisoned for less serious offences such as crime against property. Women's facilities at Broadmoor are due to close in the next two to three years.
A Norwegian Court of Appeal has acquitted a taxi driver of sexually assaulting a disabled woman with learning difficulties on the grounds that he had only lived in the country for 12 years and so had not understood she was disabled. This was despite the fact that she paid for the trip using her disabled taxi card.
Women's Committee Chair Anne Pridmore has been appointed as a Steering Group Commissioner to the Women's National Commission (WNC). The WNC was set up more than 30 years ago as the 'official, independent advisory body giving the views of women to Government'. It is an Advisory Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB): this means it is fully funded by Government, but is able to comment freely on government policy. The Steering Group is made up of women who represent all parts of the UK and key sections of the women's lobby. Their task is to develop the WNC's strategic direction, and oversee the work programme. They advise the Chair in their own areas of expertise, and work with WNC partners to develop programmes. The Steering Group is selected through the Nolan procedures, which are designed to ensure open and fair competition for public appointments. Congratulations Anne!
Women's Committee webmaster Ju
Gosling aka ju90 has won the first case to be taken under the section of
the Disability Discrimination Act that deals with the benefits of trade union
membership. The Central London Employment Tribunal has ruled that the
National Union of Journalists breached the law on four occasions during their
2000 annual conference. Ju was the only wheelchair user present at the conference,
and was taken seriously ill on the second day after the union failed to implement
the previously agreed access arrangements. She sustained permanent damage to
her central nervous system as a result. The Tribunal found that the NUJ had
failed to meet Ju's dietary requirements and failed to provide the support promised
during the conference proceedings. They also found that the NUJ had failed to
take adequate care of Ju's wheelchair, after they left it behind at the conference
after agreeing to transport it and it was then badly damaged. The Tribunal will
meet in April 2004 to decide compensation.
In brief . . .
Research shows that in 284 cases of alleged sexual abuse against people with learning difficulties, only one resulted in a conviction. Police investigated less than a quarter of the cases (63), and only two went to court.
Women psychiatric patients on mixed-sex wards continue to suffer harassment, according to a survey of patients in Hackney, East London by the City and Hackney Community Health Council. The survey found that 22 of the 32 women questioned were unhappy on mixed-sex wards because of harassment and lack of privacy. This follows a national survey by mental health charity Mind earlier in 2002 which revealed that over half of respondents reported sexual harassment, abuse and rape on psychiatric wards across England.
More than half of all women in British prisons have mental health problems, according to a new report. Campaigners are calling for thousands of women to be released into either hospital or the community.
Disabled women with learning difficulties are being given very little information about the menopause and the importance of weight-bearing exercise to keep their bones strong, according to research by the Foundation for People with Learning Difficulties.
Parents with learning difficulties who have had their children removed by the State have launched a new campaign, Fighting for Our Children, to raise awareness of the issue and call for more support from social services to prevent parents from losing their children in the future.
Parents of disabled children can now claim childcare tax credit for childcare provided within their homes by registered nurses and childminders.
Disabled people are being made a priority group for funding by the National Lottery. This is part of a new Strategic Plan from 2002-2007 by the Community Fund.
Young women with mental health difficulties are being held in 'inappropriate' prison conditions at Eastwood Park women's prison in Gloucestershire, described by inspectors as 'an establishment in crisis'. As a result young women are self-harming on a daily basis, and some are dying.
One of the few accessible rape crisis services has lost its funding. The Women Against Rape centre in London's Kentish Town has supported thousands of women and girls who have been raped and/or experienced domestic abuse.
The London Rape Crisis Centre is to close after 26 years, and the sale of the building is to be used to fund London women's organisations who support their aims and principles. To register to receive information about donations or grants, please send your organisation's name, brief details of what it does, and contact details to contact@londonrapecrisis.co.uk or to RCRP, PO Box 69, London WC1X 9NJ.
A disabled woman who sued her health authority for the cost of bringing up her child after a faulty sterilisation operation left her pregnant has had her court victory overturned by the House of Lords. The Court of Appeal had ruled that Karina Rees was entitled to the additional assistance costs that she needed, but this was cut to £15,000.
Women's Aid have produced a briefing paper on the new Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill in response to the Government Consultation Paper Safety and Justice. Details of this and their response to the consultation can be found on their website at www.womensaid.org.uk.
Image courtesy of the CHANGE Picture Bank