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adopted in Brussels on 22 February 1997 by the European Disability Forum
Working Group on
Women and Disability
A revision of recommendations from the United Nations Experts Seminar on
Disabled Women in Vienna 1990, and a manifestation of the UN Standard Rules on
the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
(c) Copyright European Disability Forum. Readers are encouraged to copy and
disseminate this document widely provided that appropriate reference is made to
the source.
Document available in all official EU working languages (EN,
FR,
DE,
ES,
IT,
DA,
FI,
NL,
PT,
SV).
The document is available on diskette and in large print upon request.
Printed March 1998 - First printed March 1997 - Translated by Context Language
Services.
Introduction by the Chair of EDF
When the European Disability Forum statutes were signed and an independent
European organisation of disabled people was born, our new membership expressed
its firm commitment to gender issues and the promotion of gender equality in our
governing bodies and in every aspect of our policy work. This is a fundamental
premise inherent within our statutes and by laws - not purely an aspiration or
statement of intent.
Although we are some way from reaching this goal, I know that progress is being
achieved. In this respect, I cannot overstate the importance of this Manifesto.
It provides vital benchmarks in relation to the promotion of equal opportunites
for disabled women and girls throughout the Union, and it calls for awareness
and cooperation within the disability movement, within the women's movement and
in society at large.
I am confident it will inspire disabled women and girls throughout the European
Union to assert their human rights. It is not by chance that it is one of our
very first policy documents, and as Chair of the Forum, I am justifiably proud
of this. Congratulations to all the women who have contributed to the Manifesto
- it is an excellent blueprint for change - and reflects the values and
principles which should shape all our work.
Preface
This Manifesto is a compilation of recommendations to improve the lives of women
and girls with disabilities in the European Union. It is based on a revision of
recommendations from the UN Experts' Seminar on Disabled Women in Vienna, 1990.
The study group on women and disability, supported by the European Commission's
DG V/E/3 and set up in the framework of the HELIOS II programme, revised the
document in the second half of 1996. The group, now a European Disability Forum
Working Group on Women and Disability, adopted the document in Brussels on 22
February 1997 and will seek to implement it. Significant contributions were made
by Anneli Joneken (editor), Member of the Swedish National Disability Council
(HSO), and Maria Br?ttemark of the EDF Secretariat.
The purpose of the Manifesto is to inform and alert women and girls with
disabilities regarding their position, their rights and their responsibilities.
But also to inform and alert the European Commission, the European Parliament,
Member States, the European Disability Movement as well as the Women's Movement
regarding the absence of gender thinking in relation to disabled women/girls and
disabled men/boys. The Manifesto is a tool for disabled women's empowerment.
For too long the focus of all actors in the disability movement has been on the
aspects of the disability itself. In second place the person with that
disability came into focus. The specific needs and situations of disabled women
and girls have been neglected. More than half of the disabled population in
Europe are disabled women and girls. The representation of disabled women/girls
has, however, always been underdeveloped.
The EDF Working Group on Women and Disability has been as complete as
possible. It is therefore possible that some articles are difficult to interpret
or to accept as facts for certain readers. The Manifesto should be seen as a
tool for debate, for decision-making, for implementation into law, policies,
etc. and to generate action plans. The drafters include all disabled women and
girls regardless of their background, religion, race, sexual orientation, age
and type of disability.
It is an instrument for disabled women's organisations, for other women's
organisations, disability organisations in general, and politicians at Member
State, European Union, pan-European and international level. It can be used to
put the gender perspective at all levels of decision-making. The Manifesto can
and should be further developed by disabled women and their organisations on an
ongoing basis and undergo periodic revisions.
It can and should lead to project proposals to implement large parts of this
emancipation plan. It will be a resource to be used by the European Disability
Forum to initiate positive action for disabled women and girls in the European
Union.
I thank all the women at the Seminar on Disabled women in Vienna and the Beijing
conference who inspired this Manifesto now available in 11 European languages. A
Manifesto that shows the strength of disabled women in the European
decision-making process.
Lydia Zijdel
Chair of the EDF Working Group
on Women and Disability
28 February 1997
Introduction
What do we mean by women with disabilities/disabled women? Girls and women with
disabilities include women with all kinds of disabilities, women with physical,
hearing, visual and mental impairments, visible or otherwise, including women
with mental illness and mental health problems, learning disabilities, and
various chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart or kidney disease, epilepsy,
HIV/AIDS, diseases predominantly affecting women such as breast cancer,
arthritis, Lupus, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis. It includes disabled girls and
women of all ages, in rural and urban areas, regardless of the severity of the
disability, regardless of sexual preference and regardless of cultural
background, or whether they live in the community or in an institution.
This Manifesto should ideally form a base for political activity to improve the
situation for disabled women wherever European Union policies are involved. In
restricting itself to the European context, it does not exclude being a
manifesto for actions of solidarity or support to disabled women and parents of
disabled daughters in other regions of the world. Given the European focus of
this Manifesto, we recognise that cultural differences exist, in relation to
other countries, but also within the European Union. This is also a manifesto
for action at national level in areas where, due to subsidiarity, EU policies
are not undertaken.
The ideological basis for the Manifesto is the notion of human rights and equal
opportunities. Non-discrimination is an important concept. A "social"
model of disability as opposed to a "medical" or
"individual" model should be encouraged, although medical differences
are not to be neglected.
It is important that in all research to be undertaken about or related to
disabled persons, the gender dimension be taken into account. This Manifesto
focuses on the specific situation of disabled girls and women because of sex -
defined as biological - and gender - defined as a social construct. Biological
differences between men and women, as well as socially imposed situations or
treatments are relevant, but not always easily distinguishable. Therefore, the
word gender is used predominantly in the text.
The notion of multiple discrimination, on grounds of gender and disability is
complex. Multiple simultaneous oppression is another expression, describing what
many disabled women and girls confront in various situations. It can, however,
also be experienced as developing into multiple strengths. Disabled women can
experience discrimination in relation to non-disabled women and men and in
relation to disabled men. The struggle for equal opportunities must therefore
take place on different levels and in different places simultaneously. Examples
of multiple discrimination of disabled women can for instance be based upon age,
ethnic background, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.
This text should be read in the context of treaties and international political
agreements, such as the UN Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities and the Beijing declaration and Platform for
Action from the 4th World Conference on Women. At EU level legislation,
initiatives and the two communications on equal opportunities for men and women
and for people with disabilities are relevant.
Recommendations of the Manifesto
This Manifesto includes recommendations linked to the following subject areas of
priority concern to women with disabilities in Europe:
1 Human rights, ethics
2 National and European legislation
3 Conventions and other international legal instruments
4 Education
5 Employment, vocational training
6 Marriage, relationships, parenthood, family life
7 Violence, sexual abuse and safety
8 Empowerment, leadership development, participation in decision-making
9 Disabled women with different cultural backgrounds
10 Awareness-raising, mass media, communication and information
11 Independent living, personal assistance, technical needs
and assistance, counselling
12 Social security, health and medical care, rehabilitation
13 Public buildings, housing, transportation, environment
14 Culture, recreation, sports
15 National focal point on women with disabilities
16 International focal points
17 Regional and sub-regional activities, project funding
18 Statistical information, research
In addition to the specific recommendations in the Manifesto, we also
recommend that all those who want to take new steps in this regard should use
the UN Human Rights instrument "The UN Standard Rules on the Equalisation
of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities", adopted by the UN General
Assembly in 1993 and composed of 22 basic rules. When using the Standard Rules
it is important to keep in mind that the purpose of the Rules is to ensure that
girls, boys, women and men with disabilities, as members of their societies, may
exercise the same rights and obligations as others.
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