The gender perspective in the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities

Question for written answer  E-002000/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Cristina Maestre Martín De Almagro (S&D)

Women and girls with disabilities account for 60% of disabled people in the EU. Unfortunately, there is still not enough emphasis on gender in the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, and no action whatsoever has been proposed to tackle the specific problems that women and girls with disabilities face. It is also unclear how the strategy on disabilities and the gender equality strategy will be implemented.

The rate of unemployment among women with disabilities is much higher than that of their male counterparts, yet the Commission has not proposed a single initiative on how to improve these women’s situation in the labour market in order to prevent further poverty.

What is more, the strategy does not mention the Istanbul Convention nor measures to combat violence specifically against women with disabilities, including compulsory sterilisation and abortion.

• 1.How will the Commission ensure that gender perspective is included in the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities?
• 2.Can the Commission explain how it will implement the strategies for gender and disabilities?
• 3.What role will the European Institute for Gender Equality play in this regard?