Feminist organizations need to recognize they have to go further to ensure they are inclusive of women with disabilities. We have a crucial part to play in the gender movement — it will never achieve its goals if we are excluded. The Women Deliver 2023 conference in Kigali, Rwanda, taking place this week, is a key moment for organizations to take action on disability rights.
When I became blind as a teenager in Ghana, I was made to believe that I didn’t have a future. I almost gave up on my life completely, such was the stigma attached to being a person with disability and a woman. It was only through the solidarity and support of other women with disabilities that I was able to carry on and make it to where I am today.
Around 18% of women worldwide have a disability. That’s almost 1 out of every 5. Despite this prevalence, women and girls with disabilities continue to face intersecting stigma and discrimination based on their gender and their impairments. This includes increased risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse, as well as facing discriminatory laws and policies, and inaccessible infrastructure, education, and social services.
About the author
Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame
Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame is Sightsavers’ global advocacy manager for social inclusion. A committed gender and disability advocate, she is also a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, chair of ICEVI Africa, and a technical adviser to the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations.
