Women with disabilities have the same rights as other women and as members of the community, they have the right to live without the fear of violence. The Disability Discrimination Act states that all people with disabilities are to be given equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to social, political and cultural activities.
All women have the right to be safe and violence against women is against the law.
It is always the responsibility of the perpetrator to seek help and to change their behaviour. Recent figures estimate that women with disabilities are between two and twelve times more likely to be assaulted, raped or abused than women without a disability. A major concern is that 50 per cent of women with disabilities will be sexually assaulted at some stage in their life. Sadly, these women are the victims who are least likely to receive assistance or access to essential support services. Women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to violence because of their dependence on others.