Page 790 - Week 02 - Thursday, 10 March 2011
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Due to the significance of this report I will quote it at length, particularly paragraphs 42 and 43:
The Committee is concerned that women with disabilities are almost entirely absent from key leadership and decision-making positions and continue to be disadvantaged with regard to educational and employment opportunities. It is concerned about the high levels of violence experienced by women, particularly those living in institutions or supported accommodation. The Committee also notes with concern that non-therapeutic sterilisations of women and girls with disabilities continue to be practised in some states in Australia and notes that the Commonwealth Government considers this to be a matter for state governments to regulate.
The Committee urges the State party, in the light of its recent ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the situation of women with disabilities in Australia. The Committee recommends that the State party address, as a matter of priority, the abuse and violence experienced by women with disabilities living in institutions or supported accommodation. The Committee further recommends that the State party adopt urgent measures to ensure that women with disabilities are better represented in decision-making and leadership positions, including through the adoption of temporary special measures such as quotas and targets, in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1 of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation No. 25. The Committee recommends that the State party enact national legislation prohibiting, except where there is a serious threat to life or health, the use of sterilisation of girls, regardless of whether they have a disability, and of adult women with disabilities in the absence of their fully informed and free consent.
Considering the ACT lags behind with a 70-30 split for access to support services for women in the ACT, there is much to do. I urge the minister to look closely at the CEDAW report and assess its relevance to the ACT. It is sad to hear that advocates have been saying the same thing for over a decade while Disability ACT has not heeded these calls.
Another area of critical need is the reporting of statistics of women with a disability for all government and government-funded services. If we receive this data we will be better placed to direct funding appropriately, mindful of the territory’s relatively poor participation of women with disabilities in education and support services. I hope there is a concerted effort to help these most disadvantaged women to participate fully in society, something that will no doubt enhance our community.
Women from all backgrounds have a great deal to offer our community. It is important to remember, as has already been said in this week of International Women’s Day, that there is still much progress to be made for women’s rights and, as I have highlighted today, particularly for women with a disability. It is important to not forget the past battles that women have fought and this is something that has been brought up at a number of events this week for International Women’s Day. It is important that we do not forget those battles that have been fought and that we keep reminding younger women in particular that we need to celebrate and preserve these victories and keep working to achieve more for women now and into the future.
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