Strengthening Security and Equality for Women with Disabilities in Private Life and the Labor Market: Legal, Economic, and Social Aspects ofDiscrimination and Violence Against Women with Disabilities (V5-24036)

Head of the research team: izr. prof. dr. Valentina Franca

The project aims at comprehensively addressing of the issues of discrimination and violence against disabled women, particularly in the context ofthe labor market and private life at the national and international, EU level. Despite historically acquired civilizational norms and the development ofanti-discrimination policies and equal opportunity policies, which have emerged in modern democracies in response to pressures from variousdiscriminated, marginalized, and even invisible social groups, and increasing socio-political sensitivity to these issues, discrimination based ongender and violence against women remains a significant social and political challenge both in terms of shaping political solutions and in terms ofshaping an appropriate normative framework. Disabled women still face multiple discrimination and various forms of violence in everyday life,leading to multidimensional consequences affecting their psycho-social development, economic poverty, marginalization, and exclusion fromvarious spheres of socio-political life. Disclosing, identifying, and addressing the existence of structural inequality or institutionalized practices ofexclusion and violence against women, specifically against disabled women in the domestic environment and in the labor market, is, therefore, anecessity for individual dignity and responsible society, a necessity that the proposed project with its multidisciplinary approach and exploration of abroader international context undoubtedly pursues. The Indicated general objective of the proposed project is pursued through specific objectivesformulated in 5 working/thematic packages (WP) that conceptually and methodologically unfold the complexity of the issue. The conceptual (theoretical) WP opens a conceptual discussion related to the intersections between discrimination – gender – disability – violence, combined withidentifying the current state of discrimination against disabled women in the workplace and private sphere in two segments – in existing politicaldocuments, normative framework in national and EU contexts. In the second phase (second WP), a legal analysis follows, based on the fundamentalprinciple of equality and prevention of discrimination as defined and implemented in the broader EU and national normative framework. In the thirdand fourth phases (WP three and four), the first two WP will be complemented by acquiring qualitative data, including the perspective of disabledwomen and relevant experts, primarily aiming to identify the specific needs of disabled women (as well as of their professional support) facingvarious life circumstances. Quantitative analysis will measure additional elements for identifying the position of persons with disabilitiesintersecting with gender at the EU and national level. In the final, fifth WP, based on previous findings and results, proposals and recommendationswill be formulated for legislative changes, policy formulation, measures, and guidelines. The objectives and expected outcomes of the proposedproject are directed toward uncovering and preventing discriminatory practices, consequently improving the position of disabled women in economicand broader social terms. The latter is pursued through scientific-theoretical problematization of the relevant issues, by formulating practicalsolutions (recommendations), and identification of good practices for the preparation of political programs and strategies as well as legislativeproposals. Undoubtedly, the proposed project addresses both the specificity of the issue and its broader political and social context, where, throughits interdisciplinary approach, it enables the space for developing the economic and social potential of disabled women, their equal treatment, and’normal’ inclusion in all spheres of social life.

Duration (from/to):

1. 10. 2024—30. 9. 2026

Contracting Authority:

Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency & Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

Financing:

The work programme of the project is structured around five work packages. For each work package, we have proposed the duration, which research organisations will carry out each research activity and what the outcome will be. The organisation of the project work will be carried out throughout the duration of the project by the UL Faculty of Physics; a meeting is planned in the first month to discuss with the client the implementation of the project and possible adjustments to the work programme in terms of both content and timing.

For the first work package (Theoretical background and problem definition of disability and gender discrimination), the duration is planned to be six months (first two quarters), and all research organisations will be involved. The outcome of these research activities will be formulated in the first part of the interim report; at the same time, proposals will be formulated as a basis for the research activities in the third and fourth work packages.

The second work package (Legal Analysis – Disability and Gender Discrimination and Violence against Women with Disabilities in Private Life and in the Labour Market) will also be carried out within six months (second two quarters) and the results will be included in the second interim report. This part of the research activities will be carried out by the UL Faculty of Social Policy; at the same time, proposals will be developed as a basis for the research activities in the third and fourth work packages.

Work packages 1 and 2 will form the basis for the implementation of work packages 3 and 4. Due to the complexity of the data to be collected, they will be the most extensive and are therefore planned to take nine months. Certain research activities from both work packages, such as sample design and methodology development, will be carried out in parallel.

The third work package (Discrimination and Violence through the Perspective of Women with Disabilities and the Professionals and Experts who can Support and Assist them) will involve all research organisations and will last for nine months. The results will be consolidated in a third interim report. Similarly, the fourth work package (The labour market situation of women with disabilities: a quantitative analysis) will take nine months to complete, and we will apply for access to the micro-data to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia immediately after the start of the project. The fourth work package will involve all research organisations, with some of the research activities from both work packages running in parallel. The results will be presented in the fourth interim report.

The final part of the project will involve all research organisations in a fifth work package, Proposals and recommendations for legislative changes and other measures, which will aim at synthesising all the findings and, on this basis, making appropriate proposals in line with the project objectives. The synthesised findings and proposals will be produced by the researchers as a separate document in the form of a fifth interim report during the three-month period, and will also be included in the final report of the project, which will also bring together the results obtained previously.

Dissemination activities will take place in the second half of the project, over an estimated duration of 12 months, in the form of the organisation of events such as small scientific and professional conferences and a final scientific conference with presentation of the project results and debate. In parallel, scientific papers will be developed for publication in national and international publications.