WUNRN
Women & Girls with Disabilities Must Be No Longer the “Forgotten
Sisters!”
By Stephanie Ortoleva, Esq. – December 3, 2014
As we discuss the impacts of violence and militarism on our livOKes and the women, peace and security framework,
we must not forget women and girls with disabilities and effects of the
intersections of gender and disability, the ‘forgotten sisters” in these
discussions! Women with disabilities work for peace in the home to peace in the
world: We challenge militarism and seek to end gender-based violence against
all women! December 3, International Day for Persons with Disabilities,
falls in the midst of the 16 Days Campaign, stressing that gender-based
violence is an international human rights violation, affecting all women,
including women with disabilities.
Clearly, it is outrageous and bewildering that women and girls with
disabilities are ignored during our work in conflict and post conflict
situations given that conflict and the ravages of war often results in
disabilities and exacerbates existing disabilities. Thus, humanitarian and
peace building efforts must incorporate women and girls with disabilities.
Effective efforts can only be developed through our leadership of the design
and implementation of such processes. We cannot just be recipients of aid.
The notion of “protection” in such situations is often the only element of
humanitarian aid, ignoring the roles women with disabilities must play in
re-building our societies and managing our own lives. We demand access to
information on sexual abuse, sexual violence, and avenues to redress these
violations of our most basic human rights. We need accessible and disability
aware sexual and reproductive care and support. We need physical access to and
reasonable accommodation in justice systems and legal representation. We must
be included as the international community addresses the concerns of women as
we re-build our societies and its institutions. Peacemakers across the globe recognize
that conflict resolution is more binding and longer lasting when all
voices, including the voices of women with disabilities, are heard during the
process of rebuilding countries.
The 2011 groundbreaking World Health Organization and World Bank “World Report on
Disability” documented the dramatic increase in the number of
persons with disabilities worldwide from prior estimates of 10% to a current
15% and there are significant differences in the prevalence of disability
between men and women in both developing and more developed countries: male
disability prevalence rate is 12% while female disability prevalence rate is
19.2%. Women with disabilities experience double discrimination due to both
their gender and their disability and face unique challenges, offer unique
perspectives, enabling us to make necessary contributions to the peace-building
process. Moreover, our participation ensures that our needs and concerns are
addressed and effectively represented.
Pursuant to the Disability Treaty (CRPD), Articles 6 and 11, the
concerns of and participation of women with disabilities must be incorporated
into these efforts. Provisions in the Women’s Treaty (CEDAW), especially in the
Preamble on conflict and post-Conflict Situations, brings into focus the
synergy between the two treaties.
The 2012 Report on Violence Against Women with Disabilities of
the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
highlights the high incidence of violence against women with disabilities in
conflict situations and that disability is a significant factor among other
identities which exacerbate discrimination and marginalization of women with
disabilities. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
research demonstrates that war increases the number of women with disabilities
at shockingly high rates.
Nonetheless, women with disabilities are generally invisible to the women’s
rights and the international humanitarian relief and development communities
and are erroneously stereotyped as incapable or useless and not having anything
to contribute to peace-building and post-conflict efforts. Those of us who have
immobility and other disabilities are, devastatingly, a low priority in
humanitarian relief, emergency preparedness and refugee and internally
displaced persons camps. The Women’s Refugee Committee highlights that often
in refugee camps, housing and toileting facilities are inaccessible, water and
other resources are far away from the camp site and no accommodations to the
disability of the woman or her family are provided. In times of no conflict,
women with disabilities are marginalized in employment, education, social life,
and political life and in times of conflict, these issues are exacerbated.
There are women and girls with disabilities who are leaders working for the
rights of women with disabilities worldwide. Women Enabled
International collaborates with organizations of women and girls
with disabilities internationally to advocate for our rights at the United
Nations and with UN and regional mechanisms, our respective governments and the
international development community, clearly demonstrating that there are women
leaders with disabilities in the community who should be part of the
peacebuilding efforts and decision-making. Women Enabled International’s ground
breaking work has provided a blueprint for the United Nations, governments and
advocates as they develop and implement Women, Peace and Security policies,
strategies and National Action Plans to include women and girls with
disabilities on a greater – and more consistent scale. For example, we made Recommendations to the CEDAW Committee to include
women and girls with disabilities as the Committee elaborates a General
Recommendation on Women, Peace and Security and there were a few mentions of
women with disabilities in the CEDAW Committee’s General Recommendation. However, there were clear
gaps, as mentions of disability only relate to the particular risk of violence,
especially sexual violence faced by women with disabilities and protection of
women with disabilities rather than our engagement in post-conflict
peacebuilding, government reform and accessible infrastructure redevelopment.
Our law review article, “Women with Disabilities: The Forgotten Peacebuilders,”
is the first major research paper to bring this issue to the forefront of
international policy and thereafter, our law review article, “Who’s Missing? Women with Disabilities in UN Security
Council Resolution 1325 National Action Plans,” presents a guide on
the importance of and “how to” include women with disabilities in 1325 National
Action Plan development and implementation.
The brief mention in UN official documents is more than symbolic, but it is
just the beginning and only a small step toward full inclusion by governments
and humanitarian aid organizations. Inclusion of women and girls with
disabilities in future resolutions on the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda
pursuant to UNSCR 1325, its National Action Plans and other
inclusion would add to better response in conflict and post-conflict
peace-building.
Stephanie Ortoleva is a highly recognized and published author, researcher
and international human rights lawyer and consultant on issues of women’s
rights, disability rights, and the rights of women with disabilities. She
is the Founder and President of Women Enabled
International, which educates and advocates for the human
rights of all women and girls, with a special focus on women and girls with
disabilities. Her articles are available at www.WomenEnabled.org/publications.