WEI’s Submission to the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice – Health and Safety of Women with Disabilities

In this submission, WEI provides information on how laws and practices in the United States discriminate against women with disabilities with regard to the right to health and to safety.

According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau analysis, approximately 18.7 percent, or 56.7 million people, had a disability in 2010 in the civilian population, not including individuals in institutions or nursing homes. 17.4 % of men and 19.8 % of women had a disability.

This submission addresses the key issues highlighted in the Working Group’s call for submissions: sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence in the public sphere, and access to justice to secure the rights to health and safety. We attempt to address a number of the issues and questions posed in the Working Group’s questionnaire, but have submitted our information in a format more conducive to addressing the specific and unique forms of discrimination that women with disabilities face in these areas. We also include an annex that provides greater detail on U.S. judicial decisions concerning forced and non-consensual sterilization of women with disabilities should you require additional information on this subject.