The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
Gender-based violence (GBV) cases against women and girls with disabilities (WAGWDs) outnumbered those involving people without disabilities during Covid-19-induced lockdowns, a new report has concluded.
A study undertaken by the Deaf Women Included (DWI), a civic organisation which advocates for rights of deaf and disabled people, has established that cases of physical and sexual abuse against WAGWDs were pervasive during the lockdown.
Most WAGWDs failed to report abuses because of lack of specialised representation, including availability of sign language interpreters, the study found.
“The study established that there was an increased number of women with disabilities who reached the services provided by the Women’s Coalition, having been raped by family members, relatives or neighbours, or experienced other forms of intimate partner violence (IPV),” reads the study report.
“The increase of violence against women with disabilities was attributed to their increased poverty and dependence on their abuser.
“WAGWDs faced several challenges in accessing GBV services, including limited access of services and specialised representation. As a result, some cases could have gone unreported.
“The study found out that the majority of organisations offering GBV services have no capacity to deal with WAGWDs. Whilst they offer exceptional services, the specialised needs of some forms of disabilities are not catered for.”
The study also established that there was an increase in the number of victims reporting abuse to authorities such as police and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni told the National Assembly recently that there was an increase in the number of girls below 17 years who were impregnated and married during the lockdown.
“A total of 4 959 got impregnated in such a short period and this means that nearly 5 000 of our girls risk losing their educational opportunity if they do not pursue readmission. Most worrying is the 1 774 who are in matrimonial union before their 18th birthday.
“They have lost opportunities and have also become vulnerable to other forms of violence, assault, which include economic and emotional abuse.”
