Women to Say, Women to Act Women with disabilities, citizens above all!

FDFA – Femmes pour le Dire, Femmes pour Agir (Women to Say, Women to Act) is a French non-profit association founded in 2003 by Maudy Piot, with the support of Anne Hidalgo, former mayor of Paris. The organisation works at the intersection of feminism, disability and social justice, aiming to improve the visibility, dignity and empowerment of women with disabilities. Its activities are structured around five pillars: a national listening line for women with disabilities who are victims of violence; social and administrative workshops and drop-in services to help women access their rights; awareness-raising actions for professionals and the general public; intersectional advocacy for a more inclusive society; and citizenship cafés that encourage participation in civic life. The association is best known for creating, in 2015, the Écoute Violences Femmes Handicapées (EVFH) helpline, described as the only national service in France dedicated to women with disabilities who have experienced violence. The line is free and confidential, and is reachable at 01 40 47 06 06 or by email at ecoute@fdfa.fr. Through this service and its other programmes, FDFA promotes an approach based on inclusion, social innovation and active solidarity, asserting that every woman, whatever her particular situation, should be able to live freely, be respected and be an actor in her own life. FDFA operates primarily in France and is registered as an association. Its work combines direct support to women, training and sensitisation of professionals, and public advocacy. The organisation is a civil-society actor rather than a commercial company, but it functions as a brand-like entity with a distinct name, mission and service offering. Its official website is fdfa.fr.

FDFA – Femmes pour le Dire, Femmes pour Agir was founded in 2003 by Maudy Piot, with the support of Anne Hidalgo, former mayor of Paris. From its beginnings, the association positioned itself at the crossroads of feminism, disability and social justice, working for the visibility, dignity and empowerment of women with disabilities. Over the years it developed a range of activities, including social and administrative workshops and drop-in services, awareness-raising actions aimed at professionals and the general public, intersectional advocacy, and citizenship cafés designed to foster the participation of women with disabilities in civic life. A major milestone came in 2015, when FDFA created the Écoute Violences Femmes Handicapées (EVFH) helpline. According to the association, this is the only national service in France dedicated to women with disabilities who are victims of violence. The line, reachable at 01 40 47 06 06 and by email at ecoute@fdfa.fr, is free and confidential, and reflects FDFA's commitment to a care-based and social-justice approach that recognises the specific nature of the violence experienced by women with disabilities and their right to adapted listening and support. FDFA continues to operate as a French association, combining direct support to women, training and sensitisation of professionals, and public advocacy. Its five pillars—the helpline, social and administrative support, awareness-raising, intersectional advocacy, and citizenship cafés—structure its ongoing work. The organisation defends an approach based on inclusion, social innovation and active solidarity, asserting that every woman, whatever her particular situation, should be able to live freely, be respected and be an actor in her own life.

• 2015

  FDFA creates the Écoute Violences Femmes Handicapées (EVFH) helpline, described as the only national service in France dedicated to women with disabilities who are victims of violence.

• 2003

  FDFA – Femmes pour le Dire, Femmes pour Agir is founded by Maudy Piot, with the support of Anne Hidalgo.

A feminist, disability-rights and social-justice association providing direct support, awareness-raising and advocacy for women with disabilities in France.

• Écoute Violences Femmes Handicapées (EVFH) helpline

  A free and confidential national listening line for women with disabilities who are victims of violence, reachable at 01 40 47 06 06 and ecoute@fdfa.fr.

• Social and administrative workshops and drop-in services

  Services to help women access their rights, fostering autonomy, creativity and collective care.

• Awareness-raising actions

  Actions aimed at professionals and the general public.

• Intersectional advocacy

  Advocacy for a more inclusive society respectful of the rights of women with disabilities.

• Citizenship cafés

  Events to foster the participation of women with disabilities in civic life.

1. 1FDFA – Femmes pour le Dire, Femmes pour Agirfdfa.fr
2. 2Women to Say, Women to Act Women with disabilities, citizens above all!wikidata.org