rights
Oppression through faith
22/August/2009 12:35 PM Filed in: Other
What do you do when the laws of a religion that
describe how a person of that faith should act are
oppressive and go against an individuals’s personal
feelings or actually cause severe mental distress or
a denial of human rights?
I see many examples in relation to my own faith, Roman Catholic, on one of the most widely used and promoted web forum ‘Catholic Answers’. What I read always shocks me for a faith that should be so loving and none judgemental yet can manifest as a cruel torment for disabled people.
Here is one example. A young woman who has Tourette’s Syndrome asks people on the forum for some guidance. She finds managing stress difficult, experiences sleep deprivation and describes herself as having a mental illness. She says she lashes out at times when she is tired and that she has concerns for a potential baby’s safety.
She wants to get married and asks whether she should have children or not and what to do if she makes the choice of using contraception (to the extent of surgery). She knows she would give all she has to be a loving mother.
The question she poses: is mental illness a good enough reason for a Catholic to remain child free.
The Catholic church is unmoving from it’s stance. Under no circumstances should a woman contracept. If a woman does not want children she must not marry. There are no exceptions. A minority of the faithful (although not in the view of the Church) disagree with this ruling.
Here is the shocking part. This woman is reaching out with a huge dilema and she is not alone - many disabled people pose similar questions on this forum. Here were some of the most shocking suggestions for her:
Option 1: Find a husband to be a full time carer to protect the child and help you be a mother - or don’t marry.
Where is her right to have a husband who remains just that and not a carer? Her right to social care and family life?
Option 2: Is this a calling to religious life. The only person to help with your struggle is your husband or God.
The Catholic view that people in this situation must by default be called to religious life is one which denies people opportunity to realise their true vocation. To provide the advice that you are alone with only God and your future husband to help you work through things is a denial of the many support systems that could be doing some really empowering work. This person needs to be around people who will take into account her social needs, her human rights, her emotional and spiritual needs. Advice which keeps people in isolation from the support of others is surely abusive?
Option 4: “I just briefly read what wiki saids about Tourettes, and I think your suitable to have children.”
and finally - since when did Wikipedia become the oracle for consultation on whether disabled people will make suitable parents or not!
There were eventually some more ‘rounded’ views and I hope this young woman found all the support she needs because she wasn’t getting it from her Catholic community.
I see many examples in relation to my own faith, Roman Catholic, on one of the most widely used and promoted web forum ‘Catholic Answers’. What I read always shocks me for a faith that should be so loving and none judgemental yet can manifest as a cruel torment for disabled people.
Here is one example. A young woman who has Tourette’s Syndrome asks people on the forum for some guidance. She finds managing stress difficult, experiences sleep deprivation and describes herself as having a mental illness. She says she lashes out at times when she is tired and that she has concerns for a potential baby’s safety.
She wants to get married and asks whether she should have children or not and what to do if she makes the choice of using contraception (to the extent of surgery). She knows she would give all she has to be a loving mother.
The question she poses: is mental illness a good enough reason for a Catholic to remain child free.
The Catholic church is unmoving from it’s stance. Under no circumstances should a woman contracept. If a woman does not want children she must not marry. There are no exceptions. A minority of the faithful (although not in the view of the Church) disagree with this ruling.
Here is the shocking part. This woman is reaching out with a huge dilema and she is not alone - many disabled people pose similar questions on this forum. Here were some of the most shocking suggestions for her:
Option 1: Find a husband to be a full time carer to protect the child and help you be a mother - or don’t marry.
Where is her right to have a husband who remains just that and not a carer? Her right to social care and family life?
Option 2: Is this a calling to religious life. The only person to help with your struggle is your husband or God.
The Catholic view that people in this situation must by default be called to religious life is one which denies people opportunity to realise their true vocation. To provide the advice that you are alone with only God and your future husband to help you work through things is a denial of the many support systems that could be doing some really empowering work. This person needs to be around people who will take into account her social needs, her human rights, her emotional and spiritual needs. Advice which keeps people in isolation from the support of others is surely abusive?
Option 4: “I just briefly read what wiki saids about Tourettes, and I think your suitable to have children.”
and finally - since when did Wikipedia become the oracle for consultation on whether disabled people will make suitable parents or not!
There were eventually some more ‘rounded’ views and I hope this young woman found all the support she needs because she wasn’t getting it from her Catholic community.
A historic day in history - what a week
12/June/2009 02:17 PM Filed in: Equality
Monday the 8th of June 2009 - remember that day.
Why?
Two amazing things happend.
1) Firstly Apple showcased a thunderous new iphone - iphone 3Gs with additional accessibility features and
2) Disabled people in the UK finally have rights to equality under the new UN treaty.
Wait - shouldn’t the second one be at the number one slot?
Seriously though, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability is a landmark piece of legislation.
On Monday it was adopted by the UK government and could lead to better daily lives for all of us in the UK who have impairments. Sadly, and true to form, the signing of this has made few headlines. If disabled people are not aware of their rights - then how can we know when to challenge common breaches of equality and dignity?
Disabled people need to know about it and use the legislation to challenge inequality. We want to be treated with dignity, respect, fairness and equality.
Why?
Two amazing things happend.
1) Firstly Apple showcased a thunderous new iphone - iphone 3Gs with additional accessibility features and
2) Disabled people in the UK finally have rights to equality under the new UN treaty.
Wait - shouldn’t the second one be at the number one slot?
Seriously though, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability is a landmark piece of legislation.
On Monday it was adopted by the UK government and could lead to better daily lives for all of us in the UK who have impairments. Sadly, and true to form, the signing of this has made few headlines. If disabled people are not aware of their rights - then how can we know when to challenge common breaches of equality and dignity?
Disabled people need to know about it and use the legislation to challenge inequality. We want to be treated with dignity, respect, fairness and equality.
Bank guilty of discrimination.
Yesterday, the Royal Bank of Scotland had to pay the
highest compensation payout of its kind to a 17 year
old wheelchair user.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission took on the case when the person had been unable to gain access to the bank in Sheffield.
The bank were ordered to install a lift for wheelchair users and the man was awarded £6,500 for embarrassing treatment.
----
I went to a HSBC bank once (only one that was near to me) and couldn’t get in because of a step. I eventually got a member of staff to do my transaction outside, on the pavement in the pouring rain and freezing cold. My case was virtually identical to this one.
This is our reality.
---
The Equality and Human Rights Commission took on the case when the person had been unable to gain access to the bank in Sheffield.
The bank were ordered to install a lift for wheelchair users and the man was awarded £6,500 for embarrassing treatment.
----
I went to a HSBC bank once (only one that was near to me) and couldn’t get in because of a step. I eventually got a member of staff to do my transaction outside, on the pavement in the pouring rain and freezing cold. My case was virtually identical to this one.
This is our reality.
---
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
01/December/2008 03:10 PM Filed in: Equality
| Social Care
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) turns 60 on 10 December 2008. On Human Rights Day 2007, the United Nations Secretary General launched a year-long UN system-wide advocacy campaign to mark this important milestone. The initiative celebrates the Declaration and the promise that has made this document so enduring: “Dignity and justice for all of us”.
Disabled people are often denied their rights - both civil (DDA etc) and human rights.
To find out about ensuring disabled people have their rights within social care practice, why not visit:
Equality and Human Rights Commission - Human Rights
Topics cover:
Fair and dignified treatment
Taking part in the community
Living the life you choose
Being safe and protected from harm
Rights in different settings - essential for all social care staff to implement.
Topics include:
Health and Social Care, Houseing, Learning and Training, Criminal Justice System etc.
Disability Equality Duty - applies to all local authority workers.
Disabled people's rights - delayed
21/November/2008 03:08 PM Filed in: Equality
Jonathan
Shaw, disabilities minister, has announced that the
UK government will not ratify the UN Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities this
December.
The delay could last until Spring 2009 or later due to lack of commitment to parts of the conventions.
Dr Alice Maynard (Scope chair) said:
“This treaty is of huge political and symbolic importance for disabled people and will help strengthen our rights in all areas of our lives, from education to family life.”
It would give disabled people the right to go to the UN when they have exhausted the legal processes in the UK.
It also has the potential to change existing legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Equality Duty and challenge attitudes and stereotypes.
One particular point that brushes heavily with social care is the right to life.
The articles referring to the Right to Life is emotive. It would give specific signals that the birth and continued life of disabled children should be sustained. Also that children of disabled parents should not be separated against their will purely on the basis of ‘disability’ - rather society should support disabled parents with their children and that to do otherwise would be a clear breach of their human rights as a family.
Another article (24) would ensure equal access to inclusive education - in the mainstream if this would not be to the detriment of other pupils.
On May 3rd, 2008, 127 countries brought disability discrimination into the 21st century. Disabled people in Ecuador, for example, now have more protection of their human rights than UK citizens.
More information
UN - easy to read guide to the Convention
Human rights and disability UN Convention.info- the only UK website devoted to the convention - news and information.
The delay could last until Spring 2009 or later due to lack of commitment to parts of the conventions.
What would this do for disabled people in the UK?
Dr Alice Maynard (Scope chair) said:
“This treaty is of huge political and symbolic importance for disabled people and will help strengthen our rights in all areas of our lives, from education to family life.”
It would give disabled people the right to go to the UN when they have exhausted the legal processes in the UK.
It also has the potential to change existing legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Equality Duty and challenge attitudes and stereotypes.
One particular point that brushes heavily with social care is the right to life.
The articles referring to the Right to Life is emotive. It would give specific signals that the birth and continued life of disabled children should be sustained. Also that children of disabled parents should not be separated against their will purely on the basis of ‘disability’ - rather society should support disabled parents with their children and that to do otherwise would be a clear breach of their human rights as a family.
Another article (24) would ensure equal access to inclusive education - in the mainstream if this would not be to the detriment of other pupils.
Has anyone else signed up to the Convention?
On May 3rd, 2008, 127 countries brought disability discrimination into the 21st century. Disabled people in Ecuador, for example, now have more protection of their human rights than UK citizens.
More information
UN - easy to read guide to the Convention
Human rights and disability UN Convention.info- the only UK website devoted to the convention - news and information.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
03/December/2008 03:07 PM Filed in: Equality
Today is the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities.
It was established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and adopted by the General Assembly in 1982 (United Nations 2006) and is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by disabled people.
This year the theme is:
"Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us".
You can read all about this years theme by following this link.
“Legislation alone will not ensure that persons with disabilities can enjoy their human rights. States will need to formulate effective policies and programmes that will transform the provisions of the Convention into practices that will have a real impact on the lives of persons with disabilities. “
Some facts:
It was established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and adopted by the General Assembly in 1982 (United Nations 2006) and is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by disabled people.
This year the theme is:
"Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us".
You can read all about this years theme by following this link.
“Legislation alone will not ensure that persons with disabilities can enjoy their human rights. States will need to formulate effective policies and programmes that will transform the provisions of the Convention into practices that will have a real impact on the lives of persons with disabilities. “
Some facts:
- The UK has not signed up to the Convention.
- This day used to be called International Day of Disabled Persons in 2007 - and has taken on a Medical Model title.
- 400 million people (80% of disabled people) live in poor countries where poverty is the main cause.
- 50-70% of disabled people in industrialised countries like the UK are of working age but unemployed.
- 20 million women acquire disabilities as a result of complications during pregnancy or childbirth.
- 90% of disabled children in developing countries do not attend school.
- 650 million people in the world are disabled.
- Older people with impairments are also ‘disabled people’ - so why say ‘disabled and frail older people’?
