Pacific sisters with disabilities: at the intersection of discrimination
Women and girls with disabilities experience disadvantages and discrimination based on the combination of both disability and gender-based discrimination, known as ‘intersectional discrimination’. This study aims to identify the issues and challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities in the Pacific and to analyse social and economic factors impacting on their human rights. The authors highlight how responses targeted to their specific issues and needs are therefore required to ensure that they enjoy the same rights as all others, including disabled men and/or their non-disabled peers.
The study separately considers each of the key areas of discrimination and disadvantage. Each of the key areas of discrimination and disadvantage is then considered . Main interrelationships between the various challenges are discussed to illustrate the complexity of the issues they face. The document then focuses on the limited laws, policies and programmes in the Pacific for women and girls with disabilities. It transfers the challenges into areas in which certain stakeholders have leadership roles. The conclusion provides an overview of key issues requiring attention and a detailed list of recommendations. It is argued that comprehensive rights-based responses will be required to change attitudes and cultural practices where they result in discrimination, and to end the poverty, isolation, violence and abuse suffered by many women and girls with disabilities. The authors recommend that urgent work is needed to:
- develop and implement laws, policies and programmes that advance the rights of women and girls with disabilities
- raise the educational attainment of girls with disabilities
- increase access to comprehensive and quality health care for women and girls with disabilities
- reduce of unemployment of women with disability
- improve access to all buildings and transportation.
