Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

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12.23 12.24 as research has found that LB women do not feel confident using mental health or counselling services, for example. 48 Case study: 49 “I don’t believe I have equal access to appropriate healthcare services as my heterosexual counterparts - partly due to the continued lack of understanding of specific lesbian health needs and at times of illness not always feeling emotionally confident or sufficiently resilient to frequently have to cope with outing myself each visit, facing a barrage of heterosexist and inappropriate questioning from GP’s and other health workers. Most of which results in me not bothering to seek medical intervention or preventative healthcare advice until it’s virtually not a choice. I will self help and self treat as far as possible. The healthcare sector is alienating, unsafe and does not meet my needs.” Recommendation: Identify and target specific health measures for lesbian and bisexual women in order to ensure improved physical and mental health in the longer term and to specifically tailor health services to meet their needs Disabled women’s health Internationally it has been raised that disabled women face a number of obstacles in the area of health and social care. This includes inaccessible health centres and facilities, and lack of information related to their health. 50 In the UK medical professionals’ poor attitude, particularly towards disabled women’s sexual and reproductive health and having little control over their care and treatment, can pose further barriers to using medical services. 51 Negative attitudes towards pregnant disabled women, providing little or no help for them either before or after becoming pregnant, and even suggesting abortion or sterilisation, particularly if the disabled woman is said to have any degree of learning difficulties, is also noted. 52 Prenatal testing and selective abortion for disabled women is rooted in and perpetuates the oppression of disabled people and should not be allowed to continue in the UK. 53 Disabled women also face a high risk of violence and spend longer periods of time in healthcare institutions than disabled men as they are less likely to be cared for by a partner. 54 (See Appendix: 36 for further information) Recommendation: Make medical and health facilities accessible, and train medical professionals to be aware of disability/gender related issues, so that they can be sensitive towards all disabled women’s needs 48. Women’s Resource Centre (2010) In All Our Colours: Lesbian, bisexual and trans women’s services in the UK. WRC: London http:// thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/IAOC.pdf 49. Hunt, R. and Dr. Fish, J. (2008) Prescription for Change: Lesbian and bisexual women’s health check. Stonewall: London http://www. stonewall.org.uk/documents/prescription_for_change.pdf 50. International Network of Women with Disabilities. (2012) A presentation on rural women and girls with disabilities at a side event at the Commission on the Status of Women 56, February 28th 2012 http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/csw/csw56_myra.doc 51. Sen, G., Ostlin, P. and George, A. (2007) Unequal, Unfair, Ineffective and Inefficient. Gender Inequality in Health: Why it exists and how we can change it. Final Report to the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health http://www.who.int/social_determinants/resources/ csdh_media/wgekn_final_report_07.pdf Similar 52. Howard, R. and Handy, S. (2004) ‘The Sterilisation of Women with Learning Disabilities – Some Points for Consideration’, The British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 133 - 141. http://www.bjdd.org/new/pdf99/99,133-141.pdf 53. Bailey, R. (1996) ‘Prenatal Testing and the prevention of Impairment: A Woman’s Right to Choose?’, in Morris, J. (ed.) Encounters with Strangers: Feminism and Disability. The Women’s Press: London 54. Iglesias, M., Gil, G., Joneken, A., Mickler, B. and Knudsen, J.S. (1998) Violence and disabled women. Independent Living Institute http://www. independentliving.org/docs1/iglesiasetal1998.html 116 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013
12.25 12.26 12.27 12.28 Gypsy and Traveller women’s health In its 2008 concluding observations the Committee recommended “the State party take concrete measures to address the high maternal mortality rate in Traveller communities, including the allocation of adequate resources to increase access to affordable health services, in particular prenatal, post-natal and obstetric services, as well as other medical and emergency assistance”. 55 However, organisations working with these women can confirm that Gypsy and Traveller women continue to suffer poor health outcomes and Gypsy and Traveller women live 12 years less than women in the general population (compared to ten years less for Gypsy and Traveller men). 56 This is evidenced by a 2012 Government report which also found that Gypsy and Traveller women continue to experience high infant mortality rates, high maternal mortality rates, low child immunisation levels, mental health issues, substance misuse issues and diabetes. 57 Despite these unacceptably poor outcomes, the UK’s 7th Periodic Report 58 fails to address these issues. We welcome the DoH Inclusion Unit’s focus on Gypsies and Travellers, however we are concerned that the Department does not include Gypsies and Travellers as one of the 16 ethnic minority categories monitored by the NHS although Gypsies and Irish Travellers are a recognised ethnic minority group under UK law and were included in the 16 ethnic categories in the 2011 census. Recommendation: The Government should introduce a targeted national strategy to improve the health outcomes of Gypsy and Traveller women The health of women involved in prostitution Women involved in prostitution suffer a range of complex issues that can lead to high levels of drug misuse (87% of women in street-based prostitution use heroin). 59 These women have high levels of poor mental health 60 and often have a significant history of sexual and domestic violence (DV). Sex work is also associated with a higher incidence of physical, sexual and emotional assault. Women involved in prostitution may face barriers to accessing sexual health services due to fear of discrimination and the fact that prostitution is still criminalised. Poverty, drug addiction, DV and homelessness can also be significant barriers because of associated travel costs and the nature of appointment systems. Fear of losing custody of children may also deter them from approaching health professionals. 61 Sex worker outreach projects have 55. 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 Paragraph 294 56. Government Equalities Office (2010) An anatomy of economic inequality in the UK: Report of the National Equality Panel. GEO: London http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/27_01_10_inequalityfull..pdf P.81 57. Department for Communities and Local Government (2012) Progress report by the ministerial working group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2124046.pdf paragraph’s 3.1 - 3.4 58. Government Equalities Office (2011) CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women) report. United Kingdom’s Seventh Periodic Report. GEO: London http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/international-equality/7thcedaw-report?view=Binary 59. Home Office (2004) Paying the price: A consultation paper on prostitution http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www. homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/paying_the_price.pdf?view=Binary 60. Department of Health (2002) Women’s mental health: into the mainstream, Strategic development of mental healthcare for women. DoH: London http://www.nmhdu.org.uk/silo/files/into-the-mainstream.pdf 61. Matrix Project (for Sex Workers), Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, http://www.norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk/ourservices/adult-services/adult-h-m/matrix-project/ Accessed: 13/04/13 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013 117
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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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6.31 6.32 6.33 6.34 infrequent lap
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7.1 7.2 Article 7 - Political and p
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7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 The House of Lords
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Page 71 and 72: 9.9 9.10 Mainstreaming gender in th
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Page 75 and 76: 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 women. 47 (See
Page 77 and 78: 9.28 9.29 9.30 9.31 New family migr
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Page 81 and 82: 9.39 9.40 9.41 9.42 • Do not redu
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Page 105 and 106: 11.31 11.32 11.33 Introducing more
Page 107 and 108: 11.37 11.38 Case study: 83 Jasmine
Page 109 and 110: 11.42 11.43 11.44 11.45 At the 2012
Page 111 and 112: 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 of women and en
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Page 137 and 138: 13.32 13.33 Case study: 57 “As a
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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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