Submission to the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for reference to the draft General Recommendation on Gender Stereotypes   

We kindly asked the CEDAW Committee to add paragraphs to the General Recommendation with the following content:

• State parties must take urgent measures to eliminate gender stereotypes that, both de jure and de facto, normalize and perpetuate violence against women and girls with disabilities, adopt comprehensive strategies to overcome negative gender and disability stereotypes, and foster a culture of zero tolerance for all forms of violence, thereby advancing gender equality.
• State parties shall ensure that women and girls with disabilities have equal access to justice by providing gender, age, and disability-sensitive procedural accommodations at all stages of the justice system.
• States should adopt inclusive legal frameworks, accessible complaint mechanisms, and procedural accommodations that address the unique challenges faced by women with disabilities in legal proceedings.
• States must remove burdensome evidentiary standards and abolish discriminatory provisions that prevent women and girls with disabilities from enjoying legal capacity on an equal basis with others.