Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

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Case study:
“If you are not on the internet you do not exist.”
Stella, aged 82 19
The systematic closure of many rural post offices and village shops also means many people
have to travel considerable distances to access pension, benefits and banking services. 20 The
high cost of living in rural areas also has a disproportionate impact on older women’s pensions
and their quality of life.
It is vital that rural women and girls have access to public transport, healthcare (particularly
sexual health services) and education but in fact there is a reduction in services. For example,
diminishing services have been reported across the board for women in rural Northumberland. 21
Women are not involved in planning services to meet their needs which results in resources
being wasted on ‘one size fits all’ provision. 22
Recommendation:
Ensure access to affordable, quality health and social care services and enable rural
women to work with other stakeholders involving them in decisions during the design
and delivery of these services
The rural experience is not homogeneous: rural areas vary in the issues and challenges they
present. Service provision should meet the needs of women from different communities. 23
Women from BME backgrounds and lesbian and bisexual women can feel particularly at risk
from unwanted and threatening behaviour from members of the public in more remote areas
which are not always dealt with appropriately. 24
Gypsy and Traveller women
In 2011 the CERD Committee recommended 25 that the Government support the rights of
women and children in terms of housing for Gypsy and Traveller communities. The Committee
urged the halt of the eviction of the Dale Farm site as this would disproportionately affect
the lives of families and particularly women and children and create hardship; instead the
Government should provide alternative culturally appropriate accommodation to these
communities. The eviction went ahead and 86 families and 100 children were forcibly removed.
19. Sclater, E. (2012) NGO Thematic Shadow Report: Older Women’s Rights in the United Kingdom. Older Women’s Network,
Europe and National Alliance of Women’s Organisations http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/
olderwomensrightsukNGOthematic.pdf
20. Sclater, E. (2012) NGO Thematic Shadow Report: Older Women’s Rights in the United Kingdom. Older Women’s Network,
Europe and National Alliance of Women’s Organisations http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/
olderwomensrightsukNGOthematic.pdf
21. North East Women’s Network (2013) The Health of the Women’s Sector in the North East of England: Findings from annual online surveys
from 2009 to 2012 http://www.newwomens.net/images/stories/January_2013_-_Health_of_the_Womens_Sector_in_the_North_East_
report.doc.pdf
22. Equality South West (2010) Women’s Voices: Dimensions of Inequality in Somerset http://www.equalitysouthwest.org.uk/knowledgebase/
view/2790
23. Sclater, E. (2012) NGO Thematic Shadow Report: Older Women’s Rights in the United Kingdom. Older Women’s Network,
Europe and National Alliance of Women’s Organisations http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/
olderwomensrightsukNGOthematic.pdf
24. Equality South West (2010) Women’s Voices: Dimensions of Inequality in Somerset http://www.equalitysouthwest.org.uk/knowledgebase/
view/2790
25. Barkham, P. (2011) ‘’Unwise’ eviction of Dale Farm Traveller camp must be halted, says UN’, The Guardian, 2nd September 2011 http://www.
guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/02/dale-farm-travellers-eviction-solution
150 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013