Document Abstract
Published:
2011
Right Now! Women with Disabilities Build Peace Post-Conflict
The main focus of this paper, part of the series of Barbara Faye Waxman Fiduccia papers on women and girls with disabilities, is to makes the argument for better inclusion of women with disabilities in peace building and reconciliation processes. However, it also very usefully sets out a wider argument for greater recognition and integration of the issues women with disabilities face within UN entities and international procedures.
The paper explains the international legal basis for inclusion of women with disabilities, covering the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which has a specific article on women with disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It also sets out the international legal framework on women and peace building. It argues that UN frameworks such as those on women, peace and security, must be innovative, using both gender mainstreaming and disability inclusion approaches.
The author provides an overview of the situation of disabled women internationally and in conflict environments, discussing the double or intersectional discrimination that these women face. She highlights the dearth of data on women with disabilities, and argues for more the collection and analysis detailed disaggregated data on this area. The paper goes on to argue that disabled women are far more likely to experience domestic and conflict related gender based violence, and are more vulnerable to HIV infection. They also are often unable to access justice post-conflict. However, the author argues that disabled women are not only to be seen as victims, and they must actively be involved in peace building and reconciliation. Recommended strategies for change include:
• Modification of the UN resolutions and indicators on women, peace and security to ensure inclusion of women with disabilities.
• UN Women to address issues of concern for women with disabilities and appoint disabled women into leadership positions within the entity.
• Women and girls with disabilities should be included in publications, presentations and other media outputs, including those around 16 days of activism and International Women’s Day.
• UN Women and other UN entities should submit reports to the CRPD Committee about their efforts to incorporate a gender sensitive and disability inclusive approach to programmes, policies and practices.
• Raise awareness among police prosecutors and courts about the need to make the judicial system and reconciliation processes accessible to women with disabilities.
• Foster collaboration among women’s groups, disabled people’s organisations, and those working on peace building and refugee programmes in order to promote the inclusion of women with disabilities in dialogue and strategy.
• Work with the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women to include women with disabilities in future mandates and ensure the Special Rapporteur on disability has sufficient resources to assess the situations of women and girls with disabilities.
• Collaborate with the CEDAW Committee to ensure that women with disabilities are included its general recommendations.
• Improve and expand data collection on national and international levels.
• Develop training materials in collaboration with women with disabilities to enhance skills and raise awareness of the importance of inclusion of women with disabilities in processes.
The paper explains the international legal basis for inclusion of women with disabilities, covering the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which has a specific article on women with disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It also sets out the international legal framework on women and peace building. It argues that UN frameworks such as those on women, peace and security, must be innovative, using both gender mainstreaming and disability inclusion approaches.
The author provides an overview of the situation of disabled women internationally and in conflict environments, discussing the double or intersectional discrimination that these women face. She highlights the dearth of data on women with disabilities, and argues for more the collection and analysis detailed disaggregated data on this area. The paper goes on to argue that disabled women are far more likely to experience domestic and conflict related gender based violence, and are more vulnerable to HIV infection. They also are often unable to access justice post-conflict. However, the author argues that disabled women are not only to be seen as victims, and they must actively be involved in peace building and reconciliation. Recommended strategies for change include:
• Modification of the UN resolutions and indicators on women, peace and security to ensure inclusion of women with disabilities.
• UN Women to address issues of concern for women with disabilities and appoint disabled women into leadership positions within the entity.
• Women and girls with disabilities should be included in publications, presentations and other media outputs, including those around 16 days of activism and International Women’s Day.
• UN Women and other UN entities should submit reports to the CRPD Committee about their efforts to incorporate a gender sensitive and disability inclusive approach to programmes, policies and practices.
• Raise awareness among police prosecutors and courts about the need to make the judicial system and reconciliation processes accessible to women with disabilities.
• Foster collaboration among women’s groups, disabled people’s organisations, and those working on peace building and refugee programmes in order to promote the inclusion of women with disabilities in dialogue and strategy.
• Work with the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women to include women with disabilities in future mandates and ensure the Special Rapporteur on disability has sufficient resources to assess the situations of women and girls with disabilities.
• Collaborate with the CEDAW Committee to ensure that women with disabilities are included its general recommendations.
• Improve and expand data collection on national and international levels.
• Develop training materials in collaboration with women with disabilities to enhance skills and raise awareness of the importance of inclusion of women with disabilities in processes.
