Violence, abuse, bullying: an untold story of disabled people living in Wales (Eleanor Burnham )

Cymraeg
English

Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Violence, abuse, bullying: an untold story of disabled people living in Wales

July 16, 2010 11:13 AM

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, Eleanor Burnham AM has today given her support to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Inquiry to examine how disabled people, their family, friends and carers who have experienced harassment have been supported, or not, by public authorities.

At the end of the Inquiry, public bodies found not doing enough to tackle the problem of disability harassment could face legal action to force them to comply with their legal obligations.

Key research [1] carried out in 2009 revealed some shocking facts about the lives of disabled people in Britain.

Disabled people are four times more likely to be victims of crime compared to non disabled people.

Disabled children and young people particularly those with learning disabilities, are most at risk.

Name-calling and verbal abuse is widespread, often undetected and often escalates into a more serious incident.

Disabled people restructure their lives to avoid risk of harassment and abuse.

Commenting on this information, Eleanor Burnham said "It is shocking that many of these incidents against disabled people go unreported. We all have the right to live our lives in safety and security. Disabled people should have the same right as everyone else to walk down the street without being intimidated or assaulted, to attend school without being bullied, to get on a bus or live in their house without fear.

Eleanor continued " I welcome this Inquiry wholeheartedly and would encourage people to share their experiences and make their views known to the Inquiry before September 10 to ensure action can be taken to improve life for disabled people living in Wales.

More information about the Inquiry and how to give evidence can be found on the Commission's website at:

www.equalityhumanrights.com/disabilityharassmentfi, by sending an email to disabilityharassmentfi@equalityhumanrights.com or by contacting the Commission's helpline by telephone 08456 048 810.

Notes

[1] Promoting the Safety and Security of Disabled People

The Commission's report, Promoting the Safety and Security of Disabled People, can be found at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/fairer-britain/good-relations/safety-and-security-for-disabled-people/

Terms of Reference for the Inquiry

Full details of what the Inquiry will look into are set out in the Terms of Reference, which can be found at: www.equalityhumanrights.com/disabilityharassmentfi.

Definition of disability-related harassment

Disability-related harassment is unwanted, exploitative or abusive conduct against disabled people, including bullying and hate-crimes. Harassment creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment and violates the dignity, safety, security or autonomy of the person experiencing it.

Public sector duties

The Commission has produced guidance to help public authorities understand what their duties and responsibilities are and how these duties should be implemented. This can be found at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/public-sector-duties/.