The Platform for Action is the document created at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, 1995. Countries represented at this United Nations Conference agreed to use the Platform for Action as the basis for planning governmental and non-governmental organization (NGO) strategies to improve the situation of women and girls in every country. During the NGO Forum and the official UN Conference, MIUSA joined other delegates to advocate for language inclusive of women with disabilities and their issues, to monitor changes and to gather support from other NGO caucuses and governmental delegates. The final Platform for Action, adopted in Beijing, mentions women with disabilities in every area, as a minority or "vulnerable" group meriting particular concern and attention.

The Platform for Action specifically recognizes the health care needs of women and girls with disabilities, and the importance of involving women with disabilities in development and anti-poverty projects. The document calls for action to reduce violence against disabled women, such as in situations of armed conflict and in institutions, and to address systemic discrimination against women with disabilities to obtain and retain employment and ensure access to education and training at every level." In recognizing the particular oppression of the girl child, the Platform elaborates: "The girl child with disabilities faces additional barriers and needs to be ensured non-discrimination and equal employment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms..."

Full text copies of the official UN Platform for Action are available free of cost, in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, Chinese. To order, contact: Chief Officer, Dissemination Unit, Department of Public Information, United Nations, New York, NY 10017 USA. Email: daw@un.org. On the Internet, go to: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/

For more complete extracts referring to women with disabilities from the Platform for Action, contact:

DPI Site "Extract from Beijing Declaration & the Platform for Action, United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women

Women with Disabilities in the Platform for Action
Following are excerpts from the Platform for Action which refer to women and girls with disabilities.

In the "Beijing Declaration" (the introductory section, the "mission statement")

"Intensify efforts to ensure equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all

women and girls who face multiple barriers to their empowerment and advancement because of such

factors as (list)... disability...

"women face barriers to full equality and advancement because of such factors as (list)...disability..."

Re: economics

"anti-poverty programmes directed towards the poorest and most disadvantaged groups of women

such as (list)... women with disabilities..."

Re: education

"eliminate discrimination in education al all levels based on gender, (list)... disability..."

"eliminates all barriers that impede schooling of pregnant adolescents and young mothers, including... physically accessible child-care facilities"

Re: literacy

"reduce rate of female illiteracy by half, with emphasis on (list) ...women with disabilities ..."

"ensure access to quality education and training at all appropriate levels for ...women with disabilities..."

Re: health

"older women: health concerns require particular attention...diseases of aging and the interrelationships of aging and disability among women also need particular attention. "

"design and implement...gender sensitive health programmes...that address the needs of women throughout their lives and take into account...the special needs of ...women with disabilities..."

"ensure that girls and women of all ages with any form of disability receive supportive services"

"increase financial and other support...for ..health service research on women's health issues...especially with respect to ....disabilities..."

Re: violence

"Some groups of women, such as ...(list) ... women with disabilities ...are also particularly vulnerable to violence."

"ensure that women with disabilities have access to information and services in the field of violence against women."

"Take special measures to eliminate violence against women, particularly those in vulnerable situations, such as (list)... women with disabilities ..."

Re: women's economic capacity and commercial networks

"support programs that enhance the self-reliance of special groups of women, such as ... (list) women with disabilities ..."

"Ensure access to and develop special programs to enable women with disabilities to obtain and retain employment and ensure access to education and training at all proper levels, in accordance with the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities; 25/ adjust, to the extent possible, working conditions in order to suit the needs of women with disabilities, who should be secured legal protection against unfounded job loss on account of their disabilities;"

Re: women's capacity to participate in decision-making and leadership

"provide leadership and self-esteem training to assist women and girls, particularly those with special needs, women with disabilities ...to strengthen their self-esteem and to encourage them to take decision-making positions."

Re: generate and disseminate gender disaggregated data and information

"improve concepts and methods of data collections on the participation of women and men with disabilities, including their access to resources."

Re: equality and non-discrimination under the law

"Strengthen and encourage the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, paying special attention to ensure non-discrimination and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by women and girls with disabilities, including their access to information and services in the field of violence against women, as well as their active participation in the economic contribution to all aspects of society; "

Re: the girl child

"The Convention on the Rights of the Child...respect and ensure the rights...to each child...with discrimination of any kind, irrespective of...(list)...disability..."

"The girl child with disabilities faces additional barriers and needs to be ensured non-discrimination and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities."

"All barriers must therefore be eliminated to enable girls...to develop their full potential and skills through equal access to education and training, physical and mental health care, and related information."

"Facilitate the equal provision of appropriate services and devices to girls with disabilities and provide their families with related support services, as appropriate."

"Ensure access to appropriate education and skills-training for girl children with disabilities for their full participation in life."