Monitoring Committee: women with disabilities don’t just think

Vienna (OTS) – The Independent monitoring Committee International women’s day as an occasion to highlight the life realities of women and girls with disabilities attention: they are particularly often affected by violence, more at risk of poverty and because of their gender, multiple discrimination.

„Women and girls with disabilities may not be considered, just as women and girls without disabilities. We need to make visible to the Public and to counteract that, you know, because of their gender and their disability discrimination.“, so Christine Steger, Chairman of the Independent monitoring Committee for the implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Many women with disabilities are affected in the course of your life from psychological, physical or sexualised violence: “The principle of detention‘ of people with disabilities due to structural violence and is far from their Right to an independent life. Nevertheless, a Trend to the dissolution of nursing homes and residential facilities is apparent. This has also objected to the UN Committee of experts in the case of the first States to test.”, Steger white.

The continuing taboo of sexuality and lack of information lead to Attacks, can be associated with, especially when they occur in residential structures, not immediately as such. Many counselling centres for women affected by violence are also not accessible.

Also, the issue of forced sterilization of women with disabilities in Austria is still up to date. Experts assume that about every second woman with learning difficulties for over 40 years, which is housed in a facility without her consent was sterilized. “Women with disabilities have the right to live your sexuality and your desire to have children.” clear Steger. “It takes education, sexuality education concepts, Peer counseling, sexual accompaniment and, above all, more than a Declaration of intent to the contents of the UN Convention.”

Hannah’s choice
Press and public Relations
+43 664 3890971
hannah.wahl@monitoringausschuss.at