The Disability Information and Resource Centre

25 November 2011, 10am-4pm

A workshop for women with disabilities. Women With Disabilities South Australia is presenting this workshop to coincide with White Ribbon Day – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gendered Violence. Keynote speaker Hon Kelly Vincent MLC – Dignity for Disability. RSVP 17 November 2011.

• Violence Includes…
• How to create & Maintain respectful Relationships
• What is 18 RESPECT?
• Turning the Negative into a Positive

Julia Farr Association, 104 Greenhill Rd, Unley

For more info email eigram1@optusnet.com.au.

In many parts of the world, women rely on access to a range of methods to control their fertility, including voluntary sterilisation. However, too often, sterilisation is not a choice. Women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to forced sterilisations performed under the auspices of legitimate medical care. The practice of forced sterilisation is part of a broader pattern of denial of the human rights of women and girls with disabilities. This denial also includes systematic exclusion from comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care, limited voluntary contraceptive choices, a focus on menstrual suppression, poorly managed pregnancy and birth, involuntary abortion, and the denial of rights to parenting. These practices are framed within traditional social attitudes that characterize disability as a personal tragedy or a matter for medical management and rehabilitation. The difficulty some women with disabilities may have in understanding or communicating what was done to them increases their vulnerability to forced sterilisation. A further aggravating factor is the widespread practice of legal guardians or others making life-altering decisions for persons with disabilities, including consenting to sterilisation on their behalf.

This briefing paper has been jointly prepared by Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Open Society Foundations, and the International Disability Alliance (IDA) as part of the Global Campaign to Stop Torture in Health Care. The paper gives a background to the issue of forced sterilisation, outlines various international human rights standards that prohibit forced sterilisation, and offers several recommendations for improving laws, policies, and professional guidelines governing sterilisation practices.

The paper can be downloaded from WWDA’s website in both PDF and Word formats:

PDF format: http://www.wwda.org.au/Sterilization_Disability_Briefing_Paper_October2011.pdf

Word format: http://www.wwda.org.au/Sterilization_Disability_Briefing_Paper_October2011.doc

In late June 2011, Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) submitted a formal communication to the United Nations regarding the ongoing practice of forced sterilisation in Australia. WWDA’s Submission was sent simultaneously to four of the United Nations Special Rapporteurs, Mr. Shuaib Chalklen (Special Rapporteur on Disability); Mr. Anand Grover (Special Rapporteur on the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health); Ms. Rashida Manjoo (Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women); and Mr. Juan E Méndez (Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment). Special Rapporteurs often conduct fact-finding missions to countries to investigate allegations of human rights violations.

WWDA’s Submission has requested that the Special Rapporteurs urgently intervene to urge the Australian Government to comply with the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (July 2010), the Committee on the Rights of the Child (October 2005), and the UN Human Rights Council (January 2011) and act immediately to prohibit the non-therapeutic and forced sterilisation of women and girls with disabilities in Australia.

The Submission is available for download in both Word and PDF from WWDA’s website at: http://www.wwda.org.au/sterilise2011.htm.

There is a free workshop coming up on the topic of Violence Against Women with Disabilities.

View the agenda for the workshop.

Friday 10 June

Julia Farr
Greenhill Rd Unley

RSVP on 08 8207 0214.

The Productivity Commission has undertaken an inquiry into a National Disability Long-term Care and Support Scheme and has recommended the establishment of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Women With Disabilities Victoria are inviting women with disabilities to a Forum in Melbourne to hear your thoughts on the proposed scheme.

Where: Level 8/255 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC

When: Monday, 11 April 2011

Time: 1pm – 4pm

RSVP: Thursday 7 April 2011

Contact: Shirley or Carolyn at the National WWDA Office

Phone: 03 6244 8288

Email: wwda@wwda.org.au

Please let WWDA know if you have any support, accessibility and/or dietary requirements. Afternoon tea will be provided. WWDA can also support participants with travel costs to and from the venue.

Numbers are limited, so get your RSVP back to WWDA as soon as possible!

Have your say on the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)!

The Productivity Commission’s Draft Report is available in a range of formats from:

http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/draft

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) have opened a new facebook page.

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and Women With Disabilities Victoria are inviting women with disabilities to a Forum in Melbourne to hear their thoughts on the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Where Level 8/255 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC

When Monday 11 April 2011

Time 1pm – 4pm

RSVP Thursday 7 April 2011

Contact Shirley or Carolyn at the National WWDA Office

Phone 03 6244 8288

Email wwda@wwda.org.au

For further details please read the flyer.

Women with disabilities in South Australia are getting together to plan the establishment of a ‘Women With Disabilities Network for South Australia’.

So, if you are a woman with a disability and are interested in the idea of a Network, please come along and share your thoughts!

Where

Disability Information and Resource Centre
195 Gilles Street, Adelaide, SA

When

Saturday, 27th November 2010, 1.30pm – 3pm

For more information contact

Shirley or Carolyn at the National WWDA Office

Phone: 03 6244 8288

Email: wwda@wwda.org.au

or

Margie Charlesworth (WWDSA Convenor)

Email: eigram1@optusnet.com.au

The venue is fully wheelchair accessible and has a hearing loop.

This meeting is being supported by Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), the national peak body for women with disabilities.

WWDA acknowledges the support of DIRC in providing the meeting venue free of charge.

No Strings Attached and the Disability & Arts Transition Team present

Burlesque with Maude Davey

12pm to 3pm

Saturday 13 November 2010

St Peter’s Town Hall
Banquet Room
101 Payneham Rd, St Peters

“What you need to do is unlock ways of being or moving in the space…(and you can) unlock stuff that you would never ever find if you said, be sexy.”

– Excerpt from Link disability magazine, August 2010.

Maude Davey presents her second workshop for Deaf and disabled women. This workshop requires absolutely no prior experience. Those who attended the first workshop are welcome to attend this one.

There are 15 places only. Please contact DATT to discuss your access requirements. An Auslan Interpreter will be arranged given prior notice. Running time is 3 hours with rest times. Cost $10 each. Further information will be given to those who want to attend.

To book a place call DATT (08) 8231 09010 or datt@cansa.net.au.

For more info on Maude visit www.nostringsattached.org.au/maude-davey.html.

Check out the August 2010 issue of Link disability magazine for a fantastic article on Maude’s work in Burlesque!

www.linkonline.com.au/issues/2010/august/index.shtml

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) is the peak organisation for women with all types of disabilities in Australia. It’s run by women with disabilities for women with disabilities.

WWDA is inviting women with disabilities in Adelaide to an informal get together to learn more about WWDA and to hear your thoughts on how things might be improved for South Australian women with disabilities.

Come along and meet WWDA’s President, Vice-President and other women with disabilities from Adelaide.

WWDA will be providing lunch and can also support participants with travel costs to and from the venue.

Where: Julia Farr Association, 104 Greenhill Road, Unley SA

When: Saturday, 16 October 2010

Time: 11am – 3pm

RSVP: Friday 1st October 2010

Contact: Shirley or Carolyn at the National WWDA Office

Phone: 03 6244 8288

Email: wwda@wwda.org.au

Please let WWDA know if you have any support, accessibility and/or dietary requirements.

Numbers are strictly limited, so get your RSVP back to WWDA as soon as possible.