International Day of People with Disabilities
This post has been written by Elle Spring, Advocacy and Communications Officer at CBM Australia.
Globally, one billion people have a disability, and 80 per cent live in developing countries. In developing countries, women and girls comprise three quarters of people with disabilities. They are disproportionately represented and are often the furthest left behind.
To mark International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December 2017, CBM has created a video to highlight their unique experience, the contributions they have to make, and the importance of including women and girls with disabilities in all development efforts.
Meet Nelly from Vanuatu: a leader, an advocate and the National Coordinator of Vanuatu Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (VDPA) – the national Disabled People’s Organisation.
“I’m happy that I am a woman with disabilities and I am a leader… I’m not only advocating for me, but for my members as well.”
However, this is not common. In Vanuatu, women and girls with disabilities face multiple layers of discrimination, creating barriers which stop them from achieving their full potential.
“Women with disabilities face double, and most times triple discrimination, because they are a woman, and they have a disability, and the abuses they face or the discrimination they face in society.”
Women and girls with disabilities are often hidden away by families, excluded from decision-making – even about their own bodies – and are less likely to attend school than girls without disabilities. In developing countries just 32.9 per cent of girls with disabilities complete primary school.
Without education, it makes securing formal employment far more difficult, especially when many women and girls with disabilities are unaware of their rights.
“Women and girls with disabilities should know their rights. They need to know they have the same rights as anyone else. They have to be empowered and live as anyone else.”
The United Nations (UN) theme for International Day of People with Disabilities this year is: Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all. It draws attention to the changes that must be made to ensure the 2030 Agenda – which aims to leave no one behind – can be realised. As former Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon stated:
"To be truly transformative, the post-2015 development agenda must prioritise gender equality and women’s empowerment. The world will never realise 100 per cent of its goals if 50 per cent of its people cannot realise their full potential."
Without including women and girls with disabilities in all development efforts, the inclusive world envisioned by the 2030 Agenda cannot be achieved, and women and girls with disabilities will continue to be furthest left behind.
“We need to work towards a society that is inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based for all. “If more women with disabilities are taking leadership positions and advocating for the rights of women and girls with disabilities, and all people with disabilities, I believe that we will not leave anyone behind. Include us!”
