Women and disability : the injustice of double discrimination

To be a woman and a disabled person is too often a double discrimination, that means discrimination based on gender and those on disability.

They represent 19.2% of the world’s female population. Despite their number, their vulnerable status are under attention. However, the few studies that exist clearly show the vulnerability of these women. For example : 80% of women with disabilities in rural Africa are pour and depend on their relates ones.
Thus, according to article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which deals with women with disabilities :

1. States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are exposed to multiple discrimination, and they take the necessary measures to enable them to enjoy fully and on an equal basis all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women, in order to guarantee them the exercise and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in this Convention.
Some solutions to overcome discrimination :
Raising awareness of disability as a human rights issue by promoting understanding and recognition of this perspective.
Encourage States and regional integration organizations to become parties to the Convention and to implement it.

Encourage and support the entire human rights system for the integration of the rights of persons with disabilities, in accordance with the Convention.
The United Nations must support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Thanks to its Handicap International unit, promotes the fight against discrimination by strengthening national capacities through advisory services, research and analysis initiatives, services provided to intergovernmental and technical mechanisms. It also engages with the wider community to build partnerships, raise awareness and mobilize support for the incorporation of anti-discrimination measures into legislation, policies or programs.
Handicap International’s experience in the field also shows that women with disabilities suffer from violence and are also excluded from basic services (education, health, work, protection). We will come back in our next issues, the issue of violence against women with disabilities