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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (October 17):
Question:
Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stipulates that "States Parties recognise that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination, and in this regard shall take measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by them of all human rights and fundamental freedoms". In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have assessed if women with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination, and if there is a need to formulate policies and services targeting at their special needs; if an assessment has been made, whether it is based on a negative assessment result that the Government has stated in its initial report submitted to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations (the Committee) that "women with disabilities receive rehabilitation services and assistance provided under the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP) on an equal basis as other persons with disabilities"; whether the authorities have assessed, with the aid of the Gender Mainstreaming Checklist, if RPP has taken into account the different needs and perspectives of both genders; if so, of the outcome; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) given that some service organisations providing support for women who were victims of sexual violence have found that the proportion of mentally retarded and mentally ill women subjected to sexual abuse is higher than that of other women, whether the authorities will collect information on sexual abuse of such women, study hidden cases and enhance measures to protect these women from sexual violence; and
(c) given that government officials indicated at the Committee's meeting to consider the report submitted by Hong Kong that consideration would be given to appointing a woman with disabilities to be a member of the Women's Commission, when the authorities will make the relevant decision and what criteria they will adopt for selecting this person?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the Hon Emily Lau's question is as follows:
(a) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to promoting, protecting and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promoting respect for their inherent dignity. It has been our policy objective to help persons with disabilities develop their capabilities as well as to build a barrier-free living environment with a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate in full and enjoy equal opportunities both in terms of their social life and personal growth. These are also the spirit and core values enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
On the other hand, gender mainstreaming aims to ensure that gender needs and perspectives are taken into account by the Government in the formulation of legislation, policies or programmes so that women and men have equal access to and benefit from society's resources and opportunities, thus achieving gender equality in the long run. As such, we seek to make sure that women with disabilities receive rehabilitation services and assistance provided under the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan on an equal basis as other persons with disabilities. The Gender Mainstreaming Checklist (the Checklist) was applied when we formulated initiatives in relation to providing community support service on mental health, and community rehabilitation day services, as well as supporting persons with disabilities to adopt information and communications technologies.
The Checklist has been applied to the Central Fund for Personal Computers (the Fund), which is operated by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) with a view to assisting persons with disabilities in securing employment. Apart from ensuring equal treatment in the vetting process for all applicants with disabilities regardless of gender, SWD has strengthened promotion of the Fund, including more effective dissemination of information to the target groups, including women with disabilities. With these efforts, the ratio of successful female applicants with disabilities increased from 26.3% in 2003 to 40% in 2011.
(b) At present, the Central Information System on Spouse / Cohabitant Battering Cases and Sexual Violence Cases of SWD collects figures on newly reported sexual violence cases involving mentally incapacitated victims. SWD also endeavours to understand the potential risks of sexual abuse faced by persons with intellectual disabilities or mental illness through various channels, including communication and exchanges with service users, frontline service units and related professionals, with a view to identifying hidden cases and providing assistance effectively.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) subvented by SWD have in general the responsibility to ensure that service users are free from verbal, physical and sexual abuse during the period when they are receiving service. NGOs providing rehabilitation services offer appropriate guidance, including sex education, to service users with intellectual disabilities or mental illness according to their needs. The Clinical Psychological Service Branch of SWD produced a sex education package in 2010 for distribution to rehabilitation agencies to assist their front-line professionals (eg social workers, psychologists and counsellors, etc) in providing sex education to adults with intellectual disabilities, with a view to protecting these persons from sexual abuse.
Moreover, SWD has drawn up the "Guidelines for Handling Mentally Handicapped / Mentally Ill Adult Abuse Cases" for reference by the rehabilitation agencies and casework units in handling relevant cases. SWD has also drawn up the "Procedural Guidelines for Handling Adult Sexual Violence Cases" to provide guidelines on how to offer assistance to mentally incapacitated victims.
(c) Members of the Women's Commission (WoC) come from different sectors. They have diverse backgrounds, and are equipped with different expertise and experience to advise the Government on the advancement of women's interests and well-being. In considering appointment to WoC, the Administration will, in accordance with the functions and work of the Commission, consider the ability, expertise, experience, integrity and commitment to public service of the candidates and apply the principle of meritocracy.
WoC has been meeting with local women's groups (including concern groups on rights of women with disabilities) and related NGOs on a regular basis, and participating in regional and international conferences from time to time, with a view to understanding the needs of women (including women with disabilities) and to keeping abreast of the latest development of related issues. To enable WoC to further listen to the views of people with disabilities on ways to enhance women's development, the Administration is actively considering the appointment of a woman with disabilities to WoC based on the principles mentioned above. We will announce the decision in accordance with applicable procedures.
Ends/Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:06
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