Legal Advocacy to End Discrimination Against Women with Disabilities (with ASL INTERPRETATION)

This webinar was presented and recorded on August 17, 2021 This webinar brought together representatives from DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN Canada), ARCH Disability Law Centre, and Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) to discuss their ongoing legal advocacy regarding gender-based violence against women with disabilities. Presenters shared the various faces of gender-based violence for women and girls with disabilities and spoke about efforts to include intersectional feminist lenses in legal advocacy addressing discrimination against women with disabilities. Examples from litigation, public legal education, community development, and law reform will be provided. Presenters also discussed lessons learned from legal interventions, including the ableist assumptions in the justice system, the importance (and limits) of terminology, and the need for judicial education. Participants: Learned about gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities. Developed their understanding of how ableism and stereotypes impact the legal experiences of women with disabilities. Found out how the legal system can support women with disabilities move from victims to survivors. Reflected on how they can center the needs and voices of people living with disabilities in their work.