Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee, 18 September 2017 Women and girls with disability (ICCPR articles 2, 3, 7 & 26; LOI 10 & 11) 58. Women with disability experience intersectional inequality and violence at higher rates than the general population.61 59. The Commission welcomes the Third Action Plan (2016-19) under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children to “improve support to women with disability who experience or are at risk of violence by working with them, the disability sector, specialist family and domestic violence services and mainstream services” (Third Action Plan).62 60. The Commission notes the Stop the Violence Project, which provides an evidence base to support future reform in service provision to better respond to the needs of women and girls with disability experiencing violence.63 61. The Commission is concerned that the Third Action Plan focuses on domestic/family violence and sexual assault in the context of intimate partner relationships only and fails to address other forms of violence perpetrated against women and girls with disability.64 In particular, the Commission remains concerned that sterilisation of women and girls with disability, without consent, continues to occur in Australia.65 62. The Commission is also concerned about the under-resourcing of accommodation and support services.66 Recommendation 18: That the Australian Government ensure that subsequent Action Plans to the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children continue to address and prevent gendered disability violence, including implementation of relevant recommendations from the Stop the Violence Project to improve the provision of support and services for people experiencing gendered disability violence. Recommendation 19: That the Australian Government introduce legal protections to prevent sterilisation of women and girls with disability without consent. Recommendation 20: That the Australian Government properly resource accommodation and support services for women and girls with disability. 8 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people Access to stage 2 hormone treatment (ICCPR articles 17 & 26) 63. The Commission is concerned by the blanket requirement of authorisation by the Family Court of Australia for ‘stage 2’ hormone treatment of young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria. 15