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FIRE
reports on the global human rights efforts
of women with disabilities |
By Laura Hershey & Robin Stephens
Radio Feminista/Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE)
August 1, 2005
People with disabilities constitute approximately 10% of the world's
population. Around 80% of all people with disabilities live in
developing countries, and at least half are women. All told, there are
an estimated 300 million women with disabilities worldwide, and 240
million of them live in the developing world. In most societies people
with physical and mental impairments face disproportionate poverty,
disenfranchisement, segregation and denial of basic rights to education,
employment opportunities, health care, political participation and
community access. Disabled women endure double discrimination based on
both gender and disability.
Government delegates and NGO
representatives are meeting at the United Nations again August 1-12 for
the Sixth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. This process has resulted in a
draft document which continues to evolve, and which is designed to
guarantee full human rights to the world's disabled people.
Throughout this drafting process, women with disabilities have been
organizing and advocating for full inclusion of gender issues in the
treaty. Several proposals are being considered and debated. One group is
urging adoption of an article specifically addressing disabled women's
rights. Another group advocates "mainstreaming" gender
throughout the entire convention, by articulating how each component
affects women in particular. Some advocates favor a “twin-track"
approach, to include both a separate article, and a gender analysis
incorporated into the other articles.
Tune in to FIRE for reports,
interviews, and analyses co-produced by Laura Hershey and Robin
Stephens. Learn about the issues affecting disabled women worldwide, and
hear the stories of some of the most active and influential women's
advocates.
Others may use all of part of this press release for redistribution but
please give credit to Radio Feminista/Feminist International Radio
Endeavour/FIRE.
For
more information, see FIRE’s Disabled Women's web space at: http://www.fire.or.cr/disabilities/notas/dis-home.htm
or FIRE's home webpages in
Spanish (www.radiofeminista.net)
and English www.radiofeminista.net/indexeng.htm,
or write to oficina@radiofeminista.net.
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