Social inclusion

Fight the double marginalization of women with disabilities

8 March Mar 2016 1142 08 March 2016

Let's make sure women with disabilities don't remain invisible within the development field. The organization "Light for the World " attracts world’s attention on this Women's Day to the position and experiences of women with disabilities and explains how is possible to make a significant leap toward achieving their inclusion.

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Let's make sure women with disabilities don't remain invisible within the development field. The organization "Light for the World " attracts world’s attention on this Women's Day to the position and experiences of women with disabilities and explains how is possible to make a significant leap toward achieving their inclusion.

While celebrating the power and diversity of all women on this Women's Day, we would like to emphasize the importance of addressing the double marginalization of women with disabilities intensified by additional prejudices based on ethnicity, religion and/or sexual preferences. This multiple discrimination is explicitly recognized by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that obliges all State parties and civil society organizations to “take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women.”

Light for the World works to advance the inclusive practices of societal development where all people with and people without disabilities can equally enjoy their rights and freedoms. Yet, we acknowledge that without focusing on specific cultural and economic barriers women with disabilities encounter in their lives, it is impossible to foster their full inclusion. We do it by:

  • Ensuring equal and meaningful participation of women with disabilities throughout our programmes;
  • Raising awareness among the stakeholders on gendered experiences of disability and the importance of developing capacity of women with disabilities;
  • Using international conventions an treaties to advocate for inclusion of women with disabilities;
  • Promoting successful examples of women with disabilities.

We believe that it is possible to make a significant leap toward achieving the inclusion of women with disabilities, especially when it is done in partnerships. Let us learn together how to appreciate and apply the audacity, creativity and strong spirit of women with disabilities!

Change is possible: The Story of Kezia
Kezia lives in Kenya and has a cerebral palsy with multiple impairments (physical, mental and visual). In 2015 she was supported by our partner ADDA and joined Baraka Agricultural college where she undertook a Poultry Production Management course. Kezia studied how to vaccinate the chicks and how to train other people in poultry rearing. She also learnt how to rear chicken and maintain hygiene. Her participation in the programme was possible due to inclusive training design and sensitization of TVET staff on the issue of disability and gender.

During the training, the trainers were sympathetic with me which was a good thing. Accessing the farm and the classroom was not a problem. The trainers were training very well. I enjoyed the relationship with the other students… Comparing the high school with Baraka as a mainstream institution, I observed that other students with physical impairment were being neglected whereas at Baraka, ‘it is the most best’. I appreciate the choice I made to attend this training because I have been empowered to train people.

Kezia

Surce: Light of the World

Cover photo: Getty/

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