The European Disability Forum, in a press release published on Tuesday 6 February, has expressed its disappointment in the agreement on the European directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence (see EUROPE 13344/24).
While the most divisive issue during negotiations was the blocking of the European definition of rape, including the notion of consent, the failure to criminalise forced sterilisation, particularly of women and girls with disabilities, was another critical point for the association, which has consistently argued for this criminalisation (see EUROPE 13304/9).
The Forum is denouncing a “barbaric” practice, in the words of Pirkko Mahlamäki, Chair of the Forum’s Women’s Committee, which constitutes “a violation of human rights”, leaving the victims “traumatised”.
Noting that the directive brings improvements for disabled women, the association also points out that a European ban would have had a significant impact.
And while countries such as Belgium, Malta, Spain and Sweden have been commended for their efforts in this fight, the Forum is urging eleven other Member States, including Portugal, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria, to revise their national legislation to ban the practice.
“States must respond to the needs of women with disabilities and guarantee their rights, rather than making decisions on their behalf”, said Ms Mahlamäki. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)