How the UN is Fighting For Disabled Women and Girls
From June 12th to June 14th, the United Nations (UN) hosted the 11th annual Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD was first implemented by the UN General Assembly on December 13, 2006 [1]. For eleven years, the CRPD has focused on strengthening its implementation to ensure that each and every single person is treated as equal, regardless of their disability.
One of the main focuses of this year’s conference was women and girls with disabilities. While disabilities are nondiscriminatory, it has been statistically proven that women and girls are more affected by disabilities compared to men. Approximately 650 million women and girls worldwide have a disability [2]. These 650 million women and girls with disabilities make up 10% of the world’s population which is overwhelming to say the least. Besides the numbers, women and girls with disabilities face significant challenges on an everyday basis. Women and girls who are not disabled are already at a disadvantage, no matter what part of the world they live in. However, when women and girls are disabled, they are put at an even greater disadvantage compared to able-bodied females.
“Women and girls with disabilities face multiple barriers to realizing their rights: environmental, physical, and informational accessibility issues, including lack of resources and inadequate access to services, as well as widespread discrimination, stereotyping and social stigma” [3].
The UN is aware of all the issues that women and girls with disabilities face. The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically focuses on the advancement and equality of all women and girls [3]. In order to achieve equality for all females, women and girls with disabilities not only need to be taken into consideration, but they also need to be addressed. The rights and unjust treatment of women and girls worldwide need to be treated as a priority when it comes to accomplishing the 2030 SDGs. While women and girls with disabilities are marginalized in society regardless of what part of the world they come from, the UN has proved that they will fight tirelessly for them. In fact, the second round table discussion on the second day of the CRPD Conference focused explicitly on women and girls with disabilities. This crucial round table discussion featured five distinguished women on the panel. In addition, the round table discussion also featured different delegates from all across the world who shared what their countries are doing to not only achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals that focus on women and girls, but what they have done to promote the wellbeing of women and girls with disabilities. The five women who sat on the panel included Ramla Said Omar Mohamed, Mercedes Juan López, Ana Pelaez, Theresia Degener, Ekaete Judith Umoh, and Victoria Lee. All five women shared different perspectives on the issue of women and girls with disabilities, and shed light on the issues that this marginalized group faces that are not commonly talked about.
Ramla Said Omar Mohamed, who is a disabled woman from the Mombasa County Assembly (MCA) of Kenya, was the first speaker on the panel [4]. As a disabled person herself, Ramla was able to offer a unique perspective on the issue of women and girls with disabilities on a global scale. Her presentation highlighted the issues that disabled females in her native country of Kenya face such as the increased likelihood of becoming victims of physical or sexual abuse at one point in their lives.
Other panelists like Mercedes Juan López who is the former Secretary of Health in Mexico focused on the treatment of women and girls with disabilities in her own country [5]. In a report published by Disability Rights International (DRI) in 2015, it was revealed that an overwhelming 40% of women interviewed in Mexico City who were all diagnosed with psychosocial or psychiatric disabilities, had been forcibly, surgically sterilized or had been coerced to undergo said procedures by their families [6]. An additional 40% of the same women interviewed in this report by the DRI admitted to being abused by their gynecologist which includes sexual assault and rape. Needless to say, the treatment of women and girls with disabilities living in Mexico is deplorable which is why Mercedes Juan López highlighted these typically unspoken of issues during her speech.
All panelists brought the issue of women and girls with disabilities to life so everyone in attendance could take note of the issues that are not commonly talked about such as how the justice system more often than not fails this marginalized group.
While each delegate from each country spoke about what they are doing to help improve the lives of women and girls with disabilities, they all acknowledged that more needs to be done. In order for the Sustainable Development Goals to be successfully implemented, women and girls with disabilities not only need to be treated as equals but their rights need to be put out on the table since they are typically brushed under the rug.
The UN understands the needs of women and girls with disabilities, which is why they were not only explicitly mentioned in the CRPD Convention, but also mentioned directly in the 2030 SDGs.
The UN has consistently proven that they will fight tirelessly for women and girls with disabilities, which is something every single country around the world should do as well. Women and girls should not be defined by their disability, but instead should be treated like everyone else. Until this group is no longer marginalized in societies across the globe, then the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals cannot be met.
For more information on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, visit: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html
References:
[1] “11th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD, 12 to 14 June 2018 Enable.” United Nations. https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp11.html.
[2] “WomenWatch: Feature on Women with Disabilities.” United Nations.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/enable/
[3] “Issue Brief: Making the SDGs Count for Women and Girls with Disabilities.” UN Women.
http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2017/6/issue-brief-making-the-sdgs-count-for-women-and-girls-with-disabilities
[4] “Hon Ramla Said Omar Nominated MCA.” Mombasa County Assembly Website.
http://www.mombasaassembly.go.ke/hon-ramla-said-omar-nominated-mca/
[5] “Doctora Mercedes Juan López.” Gob.mx.
https://www.gob.mx/conadis/estructuras/dra-mercedes-juan-lopez
[6] “Sexual Abuse in Mexico.” Disability Rights International. July 06, 2015.
https://www.driadvocacy.org/disability-rights-international-dri-research-reveals-shocking-abuses-against-women-with-disabilities-in-mexico-city/
