The Sunday Mail
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
AS Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world to recognise International Women’s Day (8 March), under the theme “gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow” and as I continue to unpack the provisions of the National Disability Policy which was launched by President Mnangagwa on June 9, 2021, the focus of this article is on women with disabilities.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, led by Honourable Minister Professor Paul Mavima oversees the implementation of the National Disability Policy, thus moving the provisions of the policy, including those that relate to women with disabilities, from paper to the real world to make a positive difference in the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.
The focus of this article is on Section 3.17 (Women with Disabilities) of the National Disability Policy, which is set out as follows:
3.17 Women with disabilities
3.17.1 Support for the development of organisations that include women and girls with disabilities must be ensured.
3.17.2 Training of women and girls with disabilities on their rights must be ensured.
3.17.3 Women with disabilities must be enabled to realise their right to legal capacity, including with respect to health decisions, financial and bank transactions, the right to work, and to participate in public and political life such as the right to vote and stand for election.
3.17.4 Taking cognisance of the fact that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple forms of discrimination, the full development, advancement and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities, must be ensured.
3.17.5 Both within and outside the home, the protection of women and girls with disabilities from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, must be ensured.
So what does it all mean?
Some people may be wondering why in this article I am focusing on women with disabilities? Section 3.17.4 of the National Disability Policy as outlined above, addresses the issue of multiple forms of discrimination of women with disabilities and the need to support their development, advancement and empowerment. The multiplicity of forms of discrimination of women with disabilities arises from the fact that not only do they experience discrimination on the grounds of gender (femininity) but they also experience discrimination on the basis of disability and other identity markers. In some instances, gender, disability, poverty, religion, culture and age may intersect to frame the oppression of women with disabilities in society.
Preamble (p) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, addresses the issue of the “difficult conditions faced by persons with disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status.”
For example, the male child preference syndrome which is common in many developing countries, results in girls with disabilities being denied access to education both on the basis of gender and disability. Educating a girl with disabilities is generally seen as a waste of resources that should otherwise be used to develop boys without disabilities, who are perceived as having greater potential of becoming productive members of society, as well as the potential to uplift their tribes.
As a result, girls with disabilities become the last priority in family budgets in scenarios that seriously violate their right to education, thus narrowing their employment opportunities later on in life and increasing their vulnerability to poverty and abuse.
Preamble (q) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, directs States Parties to recognise that “women and girls with disabilities are often at greater risk, both within and outside the home, of violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation.”
Sexual and gender based violence that is perpetrated against women and girls with disabilities is therefore a major concern. Women and girls with disabilities are generally regarded as easy targets. Deaf women cannot scream for help and blind women cannot see the perpetrator.
The provisions of the National Disability Policy as outlined above, bring women with disabilities into the spotlight, thus ensuring that as a nation, we do not take a blanket approach in addressing women’s issues. The reality is that women are not a homogenous group, because within the broad category of women, there are women with disabilities who may have unique needs that are related to disability. For example, women with disabilities may need assistive devices such as wheelchairs and crutches to help them undertake their daily living activities. That is not to say such need makes women with disabilities less of women, but it is to say that with the right support, women with disabilities can actively and meaningfully participate in all facets of life, fend for themselves and their families, as well as contribute to the national development agenda.
Let us all take a moment to reflect on how effective implementation of the provisions of Section 3.17 of the National Disability Policy (Women with Disabilities), can enable us to prevent rampant violence, exploitation and abuse of women with disabilities whilst at the same time ensuring that women with disabilities occupy active spaces in all facets of life, including in policy and legislative making processes, programming, political and public life, climate change initiatives, banking and finance, health and education among other areas.
Bearing in mind the provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013 on gender equality, the National Disability Policy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), which Zimbabwe ratified in September, 2013, let us all make International Women’s Day our day and do whatever we can to make a positive difference in the lives of women and girls with disabilities within our families, communities and sectors.
Dr. Christine Peta is a Disability, Policy, International Development and Research expert who is the National Director for Disability Affairs in Zimbabwe — she can be contacted on: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
