DRAFT LETTER ATT: According to The Universal Declaration of the Human Rights of Man adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 10th December 1948. According to Art. 6 of the Treaty of Amsterdam , concluded on the 7th June and signed on the 2nd October 1997, which sanctions that the European Union is founded principles of freedom, democracy, respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. According to Art. 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam that confers upon the European Union the authority to undertake all the necessary measures to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation.. According to The Council Directive 2000/78/CE, of the 27th November 2000, that established a general framework of equal treatment employment and occupation . According to The Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disability in discussion at the UN Considering that The 2007 was declared the European year for Equal Opportunities for all, and its objective is to render the European Union’s citizens aware of their right to enjoy equal treatment and a discrimination-free life. Having verified The condition of discrimination, exclusion, lack of equal opportunities and violation of the Human Rights of persons with disability. Having verified The multiple discrimination and the condition of invisibility that women with disability live with. A group of women with disability, coming from different European countries, got together on the 20th and 21st May 2006, in Lamezia Terme – Italy – in occasion of the European Seminar "Walking Roots: Rediscovering Our Essence" realised within the project “Walking Roots - Methodologies and Means against Violence on Women with Disabilities” – Daphne II Programme 2004/2008 n. 2004-2/094/W, wants to draw attention on the condition of multiple discrimination that they are forced to suffer in their own countries of origin and within the European Union. Likewise, they express the necessity that actions and policies are undertaken, both on behalf of European Institutions as well as the single countries, so that they can guarantee their equal opportunities and respect of their Human Rights. Referring to the personal and associative life experience of each woman with disability experienced in her own country and in the political and cultural commitment on a European level, the women with disability. DEMAND I. The Institutions of the European Union and the national Governments to support the due pressure so that gender issues are included in the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disability in discussion at the United Nations, according to these modalities: Þ Introduce issues relative to women and young girls with disability, including those who cannot represent themselves, in a specific article of the Convention Þ Introduce in the Convention’s structure, themes on gender in particular in the articles: health, education, employment, of particular importance to women. II. The European Institutions and the national Governments to privilege and implement, in occasion of the year 2007 European Year for equal opportunities for all, projects that promote sensitization processes, innovative policies and services made to favour the equal opportunities of persons with disability and the respect of their Human Rights, with particular attention to gender issues and double discrimination on women and young girls with disability. III. The Institutions of the European Union and the national and regional Governments to activate themselves for the definitive realisation of the judicial and legislative framework aimed at guaranteeing the necessary measures directed towards reaching the objective of full participation and equality of women and young girls with disability. In particular they state the necessity to enact a legislations that protects the rights of women and young girls with disability in cases of sexual abuse and violence outside and inside their places of residence. Particular attention must be given to the women with disability that are unable to represent themselves. IV. The national and regional Governments to channel adequate financial resources to the diffusion of services for overcoming multiple discrimination, on basis of gender and disability: personal assistance, mobility, rehabilitation, health, education, training and employment, independent living, social security. V. The European Institutions and the national and regional Governments to promote and fund training for women and young girls with disability to develop their empowerment. Specifically fund and support peer counselling activities and above all contribute concretely to the acknowledgement of the professional figure of peer counsellor