Violence against women is a worldwide social and human rights problem that cuts across cultural, geographical, religious, social and economic boundaries. It affects women in countries around the world, regardless of class, religion, disability, age or sexual identity.International evidence shows that approximately every 3 to 5 women experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner. However, across the globe, women and girls with impairments or life-limiting illnesses are more susceptible to different forms of violence across a range of environments and by different perpetrators including professionals and family members as well as partners. However they are likely to be seriously disadvantaged in gaining information and support to escape the abusive relationships. This paper stems from the UK part of an ongoing four country comparative study funded by the European Commission. It presents preliminary findings, generated from life history interviews, about disabled women's experiences of violence and access to support (both formal and informal) over their lifecourse, and their aspirations for the prevention of violence in the future. The paper includes examples of impairment-specific violence not experienced by non-disabled women. By bringing the voices of disabled women into the public domain, the paper will facilitate a historically marginalised group to contribute to the debate about disability, violence and support.
Violence against children is a human rights problem that cuts across gender, race, geographical, religious, socio-economic status and cultural boundaries. The risk of violence towards disabled children during their lifetime is 3-4 times greater than towards non-disabled children. It starts in early childhood, is more severe and linked to disablist structures in society. Violence is perpetrated by individuals and through institutional practices that are part of disabled children's everyday life. Violence is often misdiagnosed as related to individual impairment, and not recognised by professionals or the victims themselves. Presenting disabled women's reflections of childhood violence, help seeking and responses to disclosure, this article seeks to raise an awareness of violence towards disabled girls and the need for these to be recognised as a serious child protection issue to be included in official definitions of child abuse.2
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