Consultation Workshop Multan

National Forum of Women with Disabilities| March 2013|Email: [email protected]

CONSULTATION WORKSHOP WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPMENT

3 March, 2013

Multan


INTRODUCTION

Women with disabilities are disadvantaged in several key areas when compared with other women,

men with disabilities, and the society as a whole. These women face a triple handicap and discrimination

due to their disability, gender and developing world status.

Considering the estimation of 2010 within the global population ‘more than a billion people are living

with some form of disability, or about 15% of the world’s population’(WHO, WB 2011:7). Women

outnumber men, as in the developing countries, women constitute up to three quarters of all persons

with disabilities. Between 65% and 70% of these women with disabilities live in rural areas. The

prevalence of disability in Pakistan is about 2.49 % (according to the 1998 National Population Census

report). Approximately 3.2 million persons with disabilities (2.49 per cent of the population), 1.37

million of which are females.

The efforts of the public sector and UN/International Organizations have brought about a thematic

change in enhancing the awareness among the People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Pakistan. The NGOs

have also played an effective role in motivating the private sector and in creating awareness and

sense of responsibility at the policy levels. Although Pakistan government is a signatory to UNCRPD,

Women with disabilities are disadvantaged. The systematic exclusion of persons with disabilities overall,

and specifically women with disabilities, from the rest of the society is the key factor behind the growing

campaigns for the networking and raising joint voices of women with disabilities world-wide.

To ensure full and equal inclusion and participation of women with disabilities in the development

process, dynamic and effective strategies for the promotion and empowerment of women with

disabilities all over the country and will be adopted international forum through developing a

cooperation mechanism.

On 3 March 2013, coordination meeting of women with disabilities organized which was attended by

10-15 women with disabilities, observed by CBID Network, STEP and SSP.


OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING:

1. Networking and Collaboration: To promote the cooperation on women with disability related

concerns through strengthening and facilitating Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) in

Multan to link them further on the whole province and national level.

2. Role of Disabled People Organization to promote the rights of women with disabilities: To

achieve the mainstreamed implementation of the UNCRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of

Persons with Disabilities).

3. Punjab Chapter: To offer expert advice, research, technical cooperation and operational

assistance to States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other

stakeholders, in order to regional capacities and national cooperation on the concerns of

women with disabilities.

4. Role of Women with Disabilities: To empower, facilitate and engage women with disabilities

from very grass-roots level.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

Welcome Note Ms. Zahida Hameed SSP

Consultation Workshop

Introduction of the Forum and

objectives of the meeting

Ms. Abia Akram

Group Discussions

Women with Disabilities Peer Counseling Session

Conclusions

Comments by Observers

CBID Network Dr. Shahnawaz Munami Mr. Mian Asim Zafar

STEP Mr. Atif Sheikh


POINTS DISCUSSED

In response to the meeting of National Forum of Women with Disabilities held in Multan on 19

November 2011, http://www.docstoc.com/docs/104491550/Report-of-women-with-disabilities-2011 a

group of women with disabilities was identified. These women started networking and collaborations in

their own capacities. They further established some vocational centers of women with disabilities in

Multan.

During discussions these women themselves identified the areas where the need is to work and what

were the challenges they face to reach on this stage.

Few of them get married and living a very successful lives, but at the same time they shared the

challenges for those women with disabilities who are living in far flung areas of Punjab and its hard

heard their voices without proper mechanism of collaboration

OUTCOME:

The Disabled People’s Organizations will conduct specific outreach efforts to include women with

disabilities.

The Punjab Chapter of NFWWDs will be established under the leadership of Ms Zahida Hameed and her

team.

They will contact to DPOs of all Punjab Province to collaborate and support the initiatives of NFWWDs in

Punjab

WAY FORWARD:

It was the first brainstorming session, need to plan in detail.

WWDs need platform to represent and share their experiences

Forum will review ten cases in each meeting for follow up from women with disabilities

Will plan to raise funds to organize meetings, seminars trainings and future activities on

international level

Consultation Workshop Multan

Documents

Transcript of Consultation Workshop Multan