Joint Committee on Disability Matters to discuss ‘Nothing about us without us’ – Achieving equal rights and equity for women with disabilities.
I as a member of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters has welcomed the fact that the Joint Committee will meet at 9.30am in the Dáil Chamber tomorrow, Tuesday, 9 March to discuss ‘Nothing about us without us’ – Achieving equal rights and equity for women with disabilities.
The meeting, to celebrate International Women’s Day (today) and in particular women with disabilities, will hear from Catherine Lane, Maureen McGovern and Selina Bonnie representing the National Women’s Council of Ireland, and Amy Hassett and Maria Ní Fhlatharta on behalf of Disabled Women Ireland.
Areas of interest which the Committee hopes to discuss include:
• Women with disabilities in long-term residential care and women wards of court;
• Article 6 of UNCRPD (Women with Disabilities) and how it can inform the work of the Committee;
• Issues of abuse and gender-based violence;
• Independence and access around relationships and reproductive rights;
• Issue of gender proofing of disability supports and services;
• Intersectional nature of disability with a focus on gender.
“The motto ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ is used by Disabled Peoples Organizations and delivers a powerful call to achieve the full participation and equalisation of opportunities for, by and with persons with disabilities. The Committee continues this call for the full participation and equalisation of opportunities for, by and with women with disabilities”.
“In recognising that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination and that positive measures need to be taken in order to ensure that they are protected against multiple discrimination and can enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others, as called for by Article 6 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
“The Committee also recognises the scale of the work ahead in that the rights of women and girls with disabilities must be included in all actions aimed at implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Members look forward to hearing from the representatives of the National Women’s Council of Ireland and Disabled Women Ireland.”
The Joint Committee on Disability Matters has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad. The meeting in the Dáil Chamber can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.