1. THE SITUATION AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES
Valérie Van Hees |Coordinator SIHO | European Parliament

2. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
OUTLINE
Support Center Inclusion Higher Education
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Implications and recommendations
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

3. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
1 | Support Center Inclusion Higher Education (SIHO)
Overarching support service for institutions for higher education in Flanders
Focusing on enhancing the participation of students with a disability in Flemish higher education
Creates a bridge between policymakers and educational institutions. SIHO is proactively involved in policy changes and development
Enhances the social perception of the general public on disability
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

4. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Women with disabilities form around 16% of the total population of women in Europe
Prevalence of men with disabilities in the population of men in Europe is similar
The proportion of women within each country reporting a disability varies widely, from 6.3% in Italy to 33.6% in Finland
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

5. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Article 6 of UN-Convention on Persons with Disabilities specifically refers to measures for women and girls with disabilities
States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple grounds of discrimination, and in this regard it shall take measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the present Convention.
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

6. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Commitment at EU level strengthens the rights of women with disabilities across a range of policy fields
The EU Directive 2000/78/EC prohibits discrimination and makes reasonable adjustments regarding the area of work and employment
Most states have gone beyond this scope, and offer similar protection against discrimination in other EU domains, including education
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

7. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Women with disabilities face issues in the domain of:
Employment
Education and training
Home and family
Abuse and violence
Democratic processess and decision making
Recreational activities
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

8. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Employment
Women with disabilities face a double disadvantage in the workplace based on both their gender and their disability status
Disability is the most important issue shaping access to work. Gender tends to have a multiplier effect
Other factors are also important, e.g., countries where employment in general is low
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

9. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Education
A significant disability disadvantage in education and training with rates of participation and attainment in education for persons with disabilities significantly lower than for persons without disabilities
The gender effect is more modest in this domain
Importance register and monitoring at different levels
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

10. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Education
A significant disability disadvantage in education and training with rates of participation and attainment
The gender effect is more modest in this domain
Importance register and monitoring at different levels
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

11. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Example of one Flemish University College
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

12. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Example of one Flemish University College
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The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

13. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Home and family
Intersectionality is strong in the area of home and family
Issues: the right to marry and form a family, decide freely on the number and spacing of their children, have access to family planning information and retain their fertility on an equal basis with others
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

14. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Abuse and Violence
Women with disabilities are at greater risk of being abused
than other people.
National legislation lacks a strong focus on disability
Access to health services and social protection
Gender and disability issues in health and social services are not covered by the same legislation
Social protection systems do not typically recognize gender
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

15. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
Democratic processes and decision making
Women with disabilities remain under-represented in democratic processes and decision-making more generally
Recreational activities
Women with disabilities are also under-represented in recreational activities, culture and sport
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

16. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
3 | Implications and recommendations
Disability has consistent and severe impact on the lives of both men and women
The negative impact of disability is unevenly spread between the genders
An intersectional perspective is very important
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

17. The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities
3 | Implications and recommendations
The right on intersectionality is insufficiently provided in the law
Awareness of the cumulative impacts of social disadvantages is essential
Action in the domain of education and employment with an intersectional perspective is essential and urgent
The Situation and Rights of Women with Disabilities

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