Study on the situation of women with disabilities in light of the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - VC/2007/317
A Final Report for the DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
("the
UN Convention") is a comprehensive international convention which has been signed by all
EU Member States as well as by the European Community (EC), the first time the EC has signed a core
UN Human Rights Convention in its own right. This signature demonstrates a commitment at
EU level to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities across a range of policy fields. Article 6 of the Convention specifically recognises the obligation on States Parties to take measures to ensure that women and girls with disabilities are able to have full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Approach taken by the study
The purpose of this study was to analyse and interpret information on the situation of women with disabilities in Europe in light of the UN Convention. Based on this analysis, the study was then to specify what still has to be improved to allow them to enjoy their rights and fundamental freedoms. The study gathered evidence at European level and at national level across 33 countries - the 27 EU Member States, three EEA Members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and three EU Candidate Countries (Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey). Secondary data was gathered from existing sources, such as Eurostat and national statistical offices, as well as from previously-published research. Primary data was gathered through interviews with key stakeholders at all levels.
The UN Convention does not provide a specific definition of disability and States Parties adopt differing definitions. Whilst the main focus of the study was not to explore definitions of disability in detail, it was necessary to examine the broad types of definitions that could be applied. For this purpose, the study considered disability both in terms of the "medical model", which situates the problems of disability on the individual, while paying little or no attention to physical or social environment, and also in terms of the "social model" whereby disabilities are created by the organisation of society on the basis of an idealised norm of the physically and mentally perfect person.
At the heart of the approach to the study was the concept of intersectionality, which is "an integrated approach that addresses forms of multiple discrimination. Intersectional discrimination is … a distinct and particular experience of discrimination unified in one person or group".2 In the case of women with disabilities, two or more forms of discrimination combine to create specific types of discrimination not experienced by women without disabilities or men with disabilities. The intention of the study was thus
to identify what was specific to the experience of women with disabilities, as opposed to the experience of women in general or persons with disabilities in general.
Given this, the report seeks to present a realistic picture of the situation of women with disabilities in Europe using the data available, as well as examples of good practice in legislation, policies and programmes intended to help women with disabilities enjoy the rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the UN Convention.
[Executive Summary]
