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CONSULTATION WORKSHOP WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPMENT

7 March 2013

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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.

Empowering women with disabilities through policy reforms and advocacy of Pakistan, National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) a Network of Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) like-minded governmental and non-governmental local and International Organizations that include mainstreaming of women with disabilities in their mandate was established in 2009. 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 7 March 2013, coordination meeting of women with disabilities organized which was attended by 10 - 12 women with disabilities, observed by Aurat Foundation, Aware-Girl Peshawer, NEPO, CHEF International and STEP.

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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 Quetta and 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. KPK 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.

5. Observance of International Women’s Day: To include and raise the voices of women with disabilities in gender agenda.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Welcome Note Mr. Aman Ullah CHEF International Key Note Speech Mr. Ali Shabbar STEP

Consultation Workshop Introduction of the Forum and objectives of the meeting

Ms. Abia Akram

Group Discussions Ms. Nasreen Aziz Discussions in presence of observers

Women with Disabilities Discussions in absence of observers Conclusions Comments by Observers Aurat Foundation Aware girl

POINTS DISCUSSED

Since the security situation and cultural context it was very difficult to engage women with disabilities to come out of their homes, it was first time that the local DPO managed to bring those women with disabilities.

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Most of them even never used the wheelchair, it was hard for them to travel and come to the meeting place.

The DPOs discussed the concern that we would like to work on this network with mutual cooperation and support and to get benefit of sharing experiences that can help address weaknesses, enhance strengths, and deepen the resolve to pursue the path of rights of women with disabilities. For this will be ready provide a platform for women with disabilities to more interact. And this workshop will play a role of Ice Breaker since its first they are meeting with each other.

There is a need to strengthen their capacities and organize some training for them, so they could learn about their role and be able to contribute in DPOs work.

There is also a possibility to initially share the key issue of women with disabilities in that particular area and focused on that can make a practical plan for them.

From discussions women with disabilities themselves identified women with disabilities don’t have any representation they have to face lots of difficulties even in day to day activities, they don’t have right to get marry with their own choice. At the same time, Stigma remains in society at large, within communities, and even, in many cases of uneducated segments of society, within families who see disabled women as a loss of productive potential and a drain on family resources. So, while on the one hand, the strong cultural family network ensures their financial security, on the other, the stigma often results in their remaining invisible members of society.

In solidarity with the international human rights procedures and substantive law to advance human rights claims, which helped to promote the enjoyment of human rights by women, concentrating on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) with the primary emphasis on economic, social and cultural rights of women, and women’s rights and personal law designed to be nationwide. Despite all these initiatives, the particular vulnerabilities and contributions of different groups within the population such as women with disabilities are overlooked. If particular attention is not paid towards their inclusion and participation in the development and humanitarian response, these persons will remain largely “invisible” and will not be in a position to access basic human rights.

Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Thousands of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day. Many groups around the world choose different themes each year relevant to global and local gender issues.

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OUTCOME:

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

The information flow for women with disabilities needs to be coordinated. To address this concern NEPO kindly offer to facilitate and provide a platform for women with disabilities to coordinate.

Though it will take some time to achieve the desired outcomes but at least the first step was made and finds those women very excited and interested to work. In the end of the discussion they had a short peer-counseling session and learnt some steps of peer counseling as a key to start communicating with other women with disabilities in their areas. WAY FORWARD:

It was the first brainstorming session, need to plan in detail. WWDs need platform to represent and share their experiences NEPO will try to provide wheelchairs and basic services to those women with disabilities 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.

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