In a written answer on 16 July 2026, Commissioner for Equality Helena Lahbib defended the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030 against criticism that it inadequately addresses the needs of women and girls with disabilities, while outlining a series of planned initiatives to tackle intersectional discrimination. The response, addressed to MEP Elena Kountoura (The Left), signals that the Commission intends to address the specific barriers faced by women with disabilities through existing and upcoming instruments, rather than through binding actions within the strategy itself.
The answer comes after Kountoura's question highlighted that 26.2% of women in the EU live with a disability, face higher poverty and unemployment rates, and that forced sterilisation is banned in only nine member states. The European Disability Forum had condemned the strategy for containing only general references to disability without substantive measures.
Lahbib pointed to Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on combating violence against women, which ensures support services for victims of forced sterilisation where criminalised under national law. She also referenced the enhanced strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, which commits to issuing guidance on employment of women with disabilities and assessing reasonable accommodation at the workplace. The Commission will explore improving healthcare access with the World Health Organization, building on an EU4Health project. A study on violence against women with disabilities is planned, along with guidelines on procedural accommodation for victims. To improve data disaggregation, the Commission is preparing a Recommendation on equality data.
The answer contains no new binding commitments or numerical targets, instead relying on studies, guidance, and recommendations. This suggests a cautious, non-legislative approach that may disappoint advocates seeking stronger obligations. The Commission's emphasis on existing directives and soft-law measures indicates that any binding action on forced sterilisation or disability-inclusive gender equality will depend on member state implementation and future legislative proposals.
Institutional follow-up is expected in the form of the planned study on violence, the guidance on employment, and the equality data recommendation, though no specific timeline was provided. The European Parliament, which had called for gender-disaggregated disability indicators in a resolution, may push for more concrete action during the strategy's implementation.