"Women and girls with disabilities face lots of limitations throughout their lives. It starts from their family, and then percolates to the society, community and institutions. Many of those coming from poor families, are physically tortured by their own family members and community people. There has to be overall inclusion of those with disabilities in all sectors. It is about their dignity and acceptance", said Ashrafun Nahar Misti, Executive Director, Women with Disability Development Foundation (WDDF) Bangladesh. Misti spoke with CNS (Citizen News Service) around the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Having a positive attitude, behaviour and acceptance of women will go a long way in reducing violence against all, including women and girls with disabilities, she added.
The hectic activities of this year's 16 days of activism against sexual and other forms of gender-based violence are behind us now. But this is an everyday battle. Every person regardless of gender expression and identity, must unite to fight all forms of gender-based violence every waking moment, with unstinted support from governments, who have already promised to deliver on the SDGs, one of which calls for the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Economic and social empowerment of women and girls and their increased participation in the workforce will go a long way in dismantling patriarchal systems and making this world a safer place to live in. Yes, it is easier said than done. But we have no other option. The campaign has to percolate to every nook and corner of every region and not remain confined to urban elite pockets. Together we can.
Shobha Shukla - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
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