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HI addresses violence against women with disabilities

Rights
International

To coincide with the 71st session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), HI is calling attention to the fact that women with disabilities around the world are almost ten times more likely to experience sexual violence. 

Young girl in Kenya

Young girl in Kenya | © HI

Women with disabilities ten times more likely to experience violence

HI will attend the 71st session of the Committee  on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, organised by the United Nations from 22 October to 9 November in Geneva. An issue of central importance to HI, violence affects more than one in three women in their lifetime. Women with disabilities, who are particularly at risk, are nearly ten times more likely to experience sexual violence.

25 years of work

For more than 25 years, HI has been implementing projects to address violence in ten or so countries around the world , including by raising women's awareness of their rights and building their self-reliance. In Rwanda, HI provides psychological support to victims of physical and sexual violence, including women, and organises discussion groups. In Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya, HI also works to combat sexual violence against children, including children with disabilities, who are three to four times more likely to be at risk of violence.

Making it Work

Hi launched the Making it Work Gender and Disability project to promote good practices in order to eliminate violence against women and girls with disabilities. The aim[1] of the organisation is also to ensure that women's voices are heard and that the risks they face (violence, abuse and exploitation) are taken into account in the projects implemented by organisations in the fields of humanitarian action, human rights, feminism and gender-based violence.

HI notably published a report in June 2018 presenting nine good practices from women's organisations  in six African countries
https://www.makingitwork-crpd.org

 

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CANADA

Fatou Thiam

USA

Mica BEVINGTON

 

Help them
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To go further

With HI’s support, Wiliany’s autonomy is improving
© G. Perez / HI
Rehabilitation Rights

With HI’s support, Wiliany’s autonomy is improving

Wiliany is a young Venezuelan girl living with a motor impairment. She is attending physical therapy sessions and HI has provided her with a new walking frame to help her get around her neighbourhood.

“We sleep in the car as it seem the safest place so far”
© T. Nicholson / HI
Emergency

“We sleep in the car as it seem the safest place so far”

Elyas (Not his real name) is member of HI team in northwest Syria. He and his family have experienced the earthquake. They are safe but still under shock.

 Increase of use of landmines driven by Russia, Myanmar and non-state armed groups Explosive weapons

Increase of use of landmines driven by Russia, Myanmar and non-state armed groups

The Landmine Monitor 2022 reports a high number of casualties caused by landmines - including improvised mines and explosive remnants of war - for the seventh year in a row. The Monitor recorded 5,544 casualties in 2021. 75% of them were civilians. This high figure is mainly the result of increased armed conflicts and contamination with improvised mines since 2015. The use of landmines by the Russian and Myanmar armies, as well as by non-state armed groups in five countries, are the main factors of a sharp global increase of the use of these weapons in 2022.

States will gather in Geneva from November 21th to 25th for the 20th annual Mine Ban Treaty conference. As we celebrate the 25 years of the Ottawa Treaty, HI urges States to pressure parties to conflict to end the use of these barbaric weapons and to support the funding of victims assistance that is shrinking despite growing needs and high casualty rates in recent years.

Read the full report.