Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

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12.1 12.2 Article 12 – Women’s health There are differences between men and women in the incidence and prevalence of most health conditions. Sometimes there are clear biological reasons for these differences – but often there are not. Gender is the most significant factor interacting with economic status to compound health inequalities. 1 Women and girls have greater health and social care needs than men across their lives 2 and face significant barriers to both good mental and physical health. 3 Women and girls’ lives are shaped by physiological factors and social experiences that negatively impact on their physical and mental health, including poverty and economic disadvantage, women’s reproductive and caring roles, experiencing violence and abuse (See Appendix: 21) and age. Whilst women live longer than men, they spend more years in poor health and with a disability. 4 This has a detrimental impact on them as individuals but women’s position in society as main care givers means their poor health will also have a detrimental impact on the lives of their families and their ability to function in wider society, in their community and in the labour market. 5 According to research, 6 young women leave school half as active as young men, while over 80% of women are not active enough to stay healthy. 7 (See Appendix: 25) Women and girls across the UK face poorer health because of all these factors. An increase in women’s unemployment and poverty, (See Articles 11 and 13) combined with current health reforms in the UK, could exacerbate existing health inequality between men and women. 8 Recommendations: • The UK Government should ensure that health professionals and commissioners receive education on CEDAW and other relevant international human rights obligations • Greater public investment must be directed towards prevention to tackle the root causes of women’s poor mental and physical health and measures to improve gaps in health services • Effectively tackling the health issues women and girls face must take into account the diverse experiences of women’s lives, including poverty, sexual violence and abuse and reproduction, and understand how these experiences impact on women’s health and wellbeing. This must include a cross-government approach and gendered analysis to address the issues that impact on women across their lives Meeting the Equality Duty In 2008 the CEDAW Committee recommended that the UK Government monitor the delivery of health services in order that it may respond in a gender-sensitive manner to all health concerns 1. Department of Health (2008) The Gender and Access to Health Services Study: Final Report http://www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk/attachments/ article/41/The%20gender%20and%20access%20to%20health%20services%20study.pdf 2. As a result of longer life expectancy and longer durations of poor health see Office for National Statistics (2010) ‘Health Statistics Quarterly’ 45 Spring 2010 http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/hsq/health-statistics-quarterly/no--45--spring-2010/index.html 3. Women’s Health and Equality Consortium (2011) Why women’s health? WHEC: London http://www.whec.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/ uploads/downloads/2011/11/WhyWomensHealth11.pdf 4. Office for National Statistics (2008) Focus on Gender, September 2008. ONS: London http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/social-trends-rd/ focus-on-gender/september-2008/index.html 5. Women’s Health and Equality Consortium (2011) Why women’s health? WHEC: London http://www.whec.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/ uploads/downloads/2011/11/WhyWomensHealth11.pdf 6. Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (2012) Changing the Game for Girls http://www.wsff.org.uk/resources/girls-and-education/ changing-the-game-for-girls 7. Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (2012) It’s Time: Future forecasts for women’s participation in sport and exercise http://www.wsff. org.uk/system/1/assets/files/000/000/249/249/1199520df/original/itstime_final.pdf 8. Women’s Resource Centre (2012) Factsheet: Women and the cuts 2012 WRC: London http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/women-and-the-cuts.pdf 110 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013
12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 of women and ensure that all health policies and programmes integrate a gender perspective. 9 However, this has not been implemented and there continue to be wide disparities in terms of healthcare for particular groups of women which does not meet the Equality Act 2010. 10 Health policies that take gender into consideration will improve outcomes for everyone 11 and provide an effective health system that is fit for purpose. It is central to the National Health Service (NHS) Constitution 12 and legal obligations (the Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998 13 ) of heath organisations to ensure everyone receives quality care and that inequality and discrimination are eliminated. This must be done at national and local level. If cuts to healthcare budgets mean that patients do not get the treatment they require, this could impact on their right to life or right not to be subject to inhuman and degrading treatment. The NHS in England has to make £15–20bn of savings by 2015. 50,000 jobs are expected to be lost in the NHS. 14 The cuts to jobs and local health services vary around the country and waiting times have increased in many places. 15 The move to more localised commissioning and the greater role of the private sector within health provision means it is uncertain whether human rights legislation will apply to health services commissioned from the private sector. This means that there is potentially reduced protection for those using health and social care services. 16 Equal access to high quality services is needed to tackle the health inequalities women and girls face in relation to their mental, physical and sexual health. For example, high quality maternal healthcare for pregnant women and mothers is crucial for the life chances of women and future generations, but must respond to all women’s needs and in particular target support to more vulnerable and disadvantaged families. Appropriate care that can meet the needs of all women must also include the women’s voluntary and community sector, who are integral to the delivery of health and social care services and are able to provide the services women want and use (such as women-only services). 17 (See Appendix: 20 for more information) Recommendations: • Introduce models of enhanced primary care provision to reduce gender inequalities e.g. more flexible opening hours, provision of outreach services, inviting patients to attend ‘health checks’ • Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Health and Wellbeing Boards need to have a basic equalities framework, and an understanding of gendered issues, including violence against women and girls 9. CEDAW Committee (2008) Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Forty-first session http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N09/555/92/PDF/ N0955592.pdf?OpenElement Para 42 10. Equality Act 2010: Guidance https://www.gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance Accessed: 25/03/13 11. World Health Organisation (2004) Gender in mental health research. WHO: Geneva http://libdoc.who.int/publications/2004/9241592532. pdf 12. National Health Service (NHS), Constitution http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution/Pages/Overview.aspx Accessed: 19/04/13 13. Human Rights Act 1998 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents 14. Ramesh, R. (2011) ‘NHS to lose 50,000 jobs, including doctors and nurses’, The Guardian, 23rd February 2011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/ society/2011/feb/23/nhs-to-lose-50000-jobs 15. Stephenson, M. (2011) TUC Women and the Cuts Toolkit: How to carry out a human rights and equality impact assessment of the spending cuts on women. TUC: London http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-20286-f0.cfm 16. British Institute of Human Rights (2012) Health and Social Care Act 2012 briefing. BIHR: London http://www.bihr.org.uk/news/human-rightsimplications-of-health-and-social-care-act 17. 87% of women though it was important to see a female health professional and some would not use a service unless it was female-only. The consequence of which could be deteriorating health. Women’s Resource Centre (2011) Women-only services: Making the case: a guide for women’s organisations. WRC: London Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013 111
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Women’s equality in the UK - A he
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Women’s equality in the UK - A he
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Appendices (online only) Appendix 1
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• the continued discrimination ag
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• Develop a common model of analy
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Article 9 - Nationality: One third
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investment in social infrastructure
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and increase the marginalisation of
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have been no prosecutions in Englan
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1 2 3 4 5 Introduction This is a Un
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10 11 12 13 housing crisis, a ‘lo
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1.1 1.2 1.3 Article 1 - Overarching
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1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 Women’
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1.17 1.18 1.19 Young women We are a
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2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 consult to “remov
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2.12 2.13 discrimination”. Howeve
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2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 worsen gen
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2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 CEDAW and the l
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3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 would “increase
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3.15 3.16 3.17 and accountable EHRC
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3.22 3.23 3.24 report is was partic
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classes, migrants, and Gypsy, Trave
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the institutional discrimination an
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5.5 5.6 5.7 Case study: 8 Sandra li
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5.12 5.13 5.14 issue. A more approp
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6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Article 6 - Exploit
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6.9 6.10 6.11 to the protection and
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6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 Office’s own
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6.24 6.25 6.26 women and increase t
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Page 63 and 64: 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 The House of Lords
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Page 107 and 108: 11.37 11.38 Case study: 83 Jasmine
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15.35 15.36 behaviour by male priso
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16.5 16.6 people being forced into
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16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15
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16.21 16.22 frequently women’s ac
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Recommendations: • Parents with c
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19.6 19.7 19.8 as well as for our c
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19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 The Governm
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19.22 19.23 19.24 19.25 VAWG is a c
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19.30 19.31 19.32 19.33 DV is still
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19.38 19.39 19.40 perpetrators thro
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19.43 19.44 19.45 Support for victi
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19.49 19.50 19.51 19.52 Recommendat
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19.57 19.58 19.59 19.60 BMER VAWG p
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19.62 19.63 19.64 19.65 VAWG in hea
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19.70 19.71 19.72 Invisibility of s
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19.77 19.78 19.79 A number of repor
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19.85 19.86 means more provision. T
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Annex 1: The Devolved Administratio
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to 41.8% of rural men. 16 Rural are
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Annex 2: The UK’s relationship wi
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Annex 3: UK reservations and declar
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ESA - Employment and Support Allowa
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Annex 5: Acknowledgements Many than
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Women’s Resource Centre is suppor
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Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

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