Women with Disabilities: A European Overview

When discussing disability in Europe, it is rarely considered that the majority of the individuals in question are women. However, more than 29% of European women have a disability, compared to just under 25% of men (data updated to 2022). Women with disabilities have specific needs and often face discrimination that is more closely related to their gender than to their disability. This occurs not only in healthcare and support settings but also in workplaces, schools, during leisure activities, and even considers safety at home and in public spaces.

This highlights the necessity of adopting an intersectional perspective when developing policies and actions related to disability. This means taking into account all aspects of a person’s identity because disability does not make someone a "standard" individual who loses their socio-cultural background, sexual preferences, age, physical condition, or gender.

When addressing issues concerning women with disabilities, policies must be tailored to their specific needs, just as policies focusing on women’s rights should also consider women with disabilities. A comprehensive approach should acknowledge the diverse conditions that make up human life, moving away from the rhetoric of minority groups. After all, can we really consider over 20% of the population a minority?

The Third Manifesto on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities

For years, the European Disability Forum (EDF) has been committed to advocating for the rights of women with disabilities. Its working group has issued several manifestos and has repeatedly brought the issue to the attention of the European Commission, stressing the importance of an intersectional approach in shaping policies for women across the European Union.

One of the EDF’s key contributions can be found in its Third Manifesto on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities. This document highlights several pressing issues, including:

• Violence against women and girls with disabilities (which will be further explored later in this article)
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Climate change
• Accessibility
• Economic crises and poverty
• War
• Empowerment

A crucial aspect of the manifesto is the emphasis on empowerment, advocating for women with disabilities as active agents of their own destiny rather than as passive beings without agency, often wrongly perceived as asexual or lacking personal desires.

This concept is closely linked to leadership—not only in terms of promoting the inclusion of women with disabilities in decision-making roles but also in ensuring that they have the ability to make autonomous choices in their own lives. This requires accessible services, environments (both digital and physical), and policies that address their unique needs, ultimately allowing them to emerge from the shadows where they have too often been placed.

The manifesto is an essential document, offering an objective snapshot of the reality faced by women with disabilities. To compile it, the EDF surveyed 500 European women, which revealed alarming data. One key statistic stands out: more than 58% of respondents reported experiencing some form of violence.

Violence Against Women with Disabilities: A Matter of Perspective and Language

In Italy, women with disabilities are twice as likely to be victims of violence compared to other women. This alarming figure comes from the latest ISTAT research, which—crucially—included disaggregated data to identify how many victims of violence also have a disability. Unfortunately, Eurostat data is no better, and the EDF study confirms that 58% of respondents have experienced violence at least once.

But what kind of violence are we talking about?

The most commonly imagined form of violence is sexual assault, as it elicits the strongest emotional response. However, for women with disabilities, violence often manifests in more hidden ways, including:

• Caregivers refusing to assist them
• Being denied control over their own money
• Being prevented from leaving the house under threat

These forms of abuse and neglect are compounded by sexual violence, which in some cases is perpetrated by staff in care facilities, abusive spouses, or even violent family members.

A crucial issue when discussing violence—particularly femicide—against women with disabilities is the language used in the media.

In Italy, 11% of femicides involve women with disabilities, yet news headlines often read:
“Driven to despair, he kills his disabled daughter.”

What situation led to this? More importantly, what justification does this imply?

Such narratives turn the perpetrator into a victim, portraying the disability itself as the real tragedy, rather than holding the real issues accountable—such as the lack of protection, the inability of victims to report abuse, and their struggle to escape from life-threatening situations before it’s too late.

Today’s journalistic discourse often enables such violence by reinforcing stereotypes about women with disabilities, feeding into a vicious cycle with devastating consequences.

Accessibility as Support and Empowerment

From my perspective, accessibility is one of the most powerful tools for improving the living conditions of women with disabilities.

Greater accessibility allows women to:

• Gain autonomy
• Escape violent situations
• Reclaim control over their lives
• Challenge societal perceptions that describe them as passive individuals

Digital accessibility, in particular, can play a crucial role in seeking help and accessing information. When websites are fully accessible, women with disabilities can:

• Access essential services for survivors of violence
• Engage with online communities for support and empowerment
• Learn about their legal rights

These critical resources are often available primarily through digital platforms. This is why it is fundamental that public services ensure accessibility—not just through websites, but also in materials such as downloadable PDFs on support services.

Moreover, the internet offers anonymity, allowing women to seek help privately—a key factor for those who, as we have seen, are often isolated within their own homes.

‍