Join the Disability Caucus

Many disabled people are feeling particularly vulnerable right now.

As the Coronavirus lockdown measures ease, and local lockdowns are implemented, there has been very little mention of the next steps for people who have been “shielding”. This won't have come as a surprise to many disabled people who have long been marginalised and ignored by governments and society.

But as members of the Women's Equality Party we have hope that we won't be forgotten. WE fight for the furthest first, because WE know that a society that values people equally is better for everyone.

Which is why we have launched a Women's Equality Party Disability Caucus!

Join the Disability Caucus  

 

The Disability Caucus has been set up by a small group of disabled party members who see a need for greater disability representation in our party. It will exist to champion the needs of those members both within the party and beyond.

The caucus will be an inclusive space for any party member who self-identifies as disabled or has a long term health condition. No one will be required to disclose the nature of their disability, though they may choose to. We hope to make it accessible to all. Please let us know using the sign up form above if there are any adaptations we can make, to ensure the caucus is accessible to you.

Our objectives will be shaped by our members, so we want to hear from you! What issues most affect you as a disabled person? We are looking forward to hearing your ideas at the meeting!

We hope to make the meeting accessible to all. If you require any adaptations to make this Zoom meeting accessible to you, please let us know via the RSVP form (link above). If you want to listen to the meeting but prefer not to contribute, you are still welcome.

If you do not have a disability or long term health condition then you can still support the caucus by signing up to be an ally. 

Become a Disability Caucus Ally 

Disability Caucus at Conference

WE hosted our own fringe event at Conference discussing the Social Model of Disability, and Intersectional Discrimination, presented by Dr Hannah Barham-Brown and Dr Sarabajaya Kumar. Supporting documentation can be found below along with our Caucus Recommends reading/watching/socail media list: 

The Social Model

Statistics on Representation

Caucus Recommends 

 

#WEspeak about the impact of Covid-19 on...

 

Katrine Marçal - Author of ‘Who Cooked Adam Smith’s Dinner’ and financial journalist
Sharonjit Clare - Co-Founder of West Midlands Women’s Voice, Company Advisor, Entrepreneur and Private Investor

 

to find out more about a feminist economy and building back equal after the impact of Coronavirus.

Watch the webinar to find out more about the effects of COVID-19 on maternity leave, child-care and pregnancy, and what the pandemic could mean for long-term change in these areas.

Watch the webinar to find out about the effects of COVID-19 on BAME women across industries, backgrounds and cultures. This discussion is part of an online series of events which will tackle the issues facing women in this unprecedented time.

Karolina Gerlich - Executive Director of The Care Workers' Charity
Wendy Irwin - Equalities Lead at the Royal College of Nursing

 

Watch the webinar discussing the impact of lock-down on our care workforce, who are overwhelmingly female, disproportionately BAME, undervalued and fighting to protect all our health. The panel will also examine what can be done and what the Women's Equality Party were campaigning for.

 

Watch the webinar discussing the 1.6 million women who experience domestic abuse every year in England and Wales. The panel also examine what can be done and what the Women's Equality Party were campaigning for- from Domestic Violence Protection Orders, to court case fees, to emergency funding.

 

Watch the webinar discussing the measures that will protect women’s reproductive rights, ensuring that all women can access abortions without having to leave their home, and freeing up healthcare professionals to focus on responding to the pandemic.

 

----

 

These discussions are brought to you by The Women's Equality Party.

 

It’s important to us that everyone can be involved in politics and so we are delivering these events for free. If you would like to make a donation to help cover our technical costs you can do so here, it is very much appreciated:

The Race Equality Caucus was set up at the 2018 Women’s Equality Party conference. Its purpose is to bring together Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) women in the party to discuss the issues GEM women face in the fight for gender and racial equality and ensure GEM voices are heard within the party. 

For too long, the fight for equality has been either/or, but the intersection between gender and race is real and damaging, and as a party that stands on and fights for equality for all, considering this intersection in every conversation is vital. The Race Equality Caucus exists to ensure this happens, and aims to become a constant voice in every policy consideration, so that eventually, race and women's equality becomes the norm, not the exception. 

Audre Lorde wrote "I am not free while any woman is unfree even when her shackles are very different  from my own". It is with this sentiment that we share our experiences as GEM women and have created a space which allows a specific focus on the issues that GEM women face in the fight for gender and racial equality and to ensure GEM voices are heard within the party. 

What is a caucus? 
A caucus is a political term that is used for a faction or group within a political party that has a particular focus. Our caucus is an inclusive space that aims to unite GEM party members and supporters across the UK in the fight for race and gender equality. It is a network that aims to support GEM women in their similar and diverse experiences. GEM women are a group that are often forgotten and marginalised, and their challenges and perspectives ignored. This caucus aims to rectify that and amplify the voices of GEM  women so that their experiences are heard and taken on board and shared. 

Why choose the phrase GEM ? 

The term Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) is a phrase that has been selected through a survey of our Caucus membership to replace the use of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME).

The Race Equality Caucus commits to using the racial or ethnic term that is specific to the group in question, or is preferred by an individual. However, when describing our collective racially diverse backgrounds, Global Ethnic Majority has been selected as the preferred term. Not only is it positive, it accurately states our position in the world.

We as a Caucus understand the importance of using the racial or ethnic term that individuals use to describe themselves. We acknowledge that GEM as a term has its problems and many in these communities have chosen to identify with other terms. WE value the different experiences that those from GEM backgrounds bring to our Caucus. It is through our differences that we learn and grow. Through mutually sharing and capitalising on these differences we become a force for change in relation to gender and racial equality.

We are inviting WE members who identify with an ethnic group that experience racism to join the Caucus. 

We have already made much progress: established a Race Equality Caucus network for GEM WEP members and elected a committee to help us work towards the below aims: 

 

Do you share the aims of the Race Equality Caucus?   
If so, get involved in one of two ways.

Become a Race Equality Caucus member where you will join a network of GEM women and can also volunteer to join the Race Equality Caucus committee. Membership is open to any Women’s Equality Party member that identifies as GEM.

 

Become part of the Race Equality Caucus  

 

Become a Race Equality Caucus ally - Allies are Women’s Equality Party members or supporters who do not identify as GEM but are keen to actively support the Race Equality Caucus to achieve its aims.