“I am thankful for my struggle because, without it, I wouldn’t have stumbled across my strength” – Stephanie Bennett-Henry, American poet and writer.
March 8 marks International Women’s Day, which commemorates the struggle for equal rights and ensures that these rights are upheld, exercised, and enjoyed. It is also an opportunity to remember that women with disabilities deserve to enjoy all their rights and live a life free from exclusion and discrimination.
Breaking down social barriers for women with disabilities
In 2023, on International Women’s Day, various activities were held in Peru to demand real equality for women with disabilities through a development cooperation project carried out by the Christian Fraternity of Sick and Disabled People of Peru (Frater), with the support of COCEMFE, AECID, and Fundación Once.
Lizzy Molina, spokesperson for the project “Gender and Disability: The right of women with disabilities to a life free of violence and discrimination in the recovery from the health crisis in Peru,” told COCEMFE (Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities) that women with disabilities can grow up in two realities based on overprotection or abandonment, a situation that contributes to them becoming victims of discrimination and exclusion over time.
“Stereotypes about disability, and specifically about women with disabilities, are the cause of numerous social barriers. Education in childhood, lack of accessibility, abuse, and infantilization contribute to society’s belief that we will not be able to do our jobs, be mothers, have partners, or even communicate or perform basic tasks of daily living,” said Lizzy Molina.
Goals for achieving an equitable society
Meanwhile, Mónica Honores, advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities in Peru, wrote in an opinion column in the newspaper El Comercio: “This March 8 finds us more empowered and much more aware that our struggle is twofold, as is our exclusion, since our work is on both the internal and external fronts.
Internally, within our own groups, to continue improving our strengths in order to achieve greater equity and social justice.
Externally, to continue gaining ground through our constant participation and by joining forces to achieve an equitable and supportive society in which everyone’s rights are respected without discrimination.
Monica Honores also mentioned the following objectives for achieving a more just and dignified society:
- Ensure guaranteed access to decent employment.
- Fight for the eradication of violence against women and girls with disabilities.
- Guarantee equal access to health services, political participation, accessibility of public spaces, more accessible transportation, information, and technology.
- Secure larger budgets for programs and projects that benefit people with disabilities.
