General News

The challenges faced by disabled girls

Disability is defined by the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as "long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder [a person's] full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others."

Other definitions of disability distinguish three levels at which an individual might experience disability: impairment, functional limitation, and restricted participation. Such definitions emphasise that restricted participation in society might result not only from impairments or functional limitations, but also from contextual factors such as: buildings and transportation that are not accessible to persons with mobility limitations; social stigma; or policies, written and unwritten, that exclude children with disabilities from schools or other settings.

In both developed and developing countries, data on the incidence of child disabilities are rarely available. General household surveys or censuses of all households in a community that include general questions about both adults and children with disabilities have also been found to inadequately identify children with disabilities. Research suggests that children might be overlooked on surveys that do not ask specifically about them. Female children and children of low socioeconomic status might be particularly under represented by this type of general questionnaire.

The Millennium Development Goals have the potential to make life better for billions of people in the world's poorest countries. However, disability is currently not included in indicators and targets set for the MDGs and disabled people are often excluded from international and national poverty reduction plans. Furthermore, people with disabilities and their families are often excluded from governments' agendas for children even though the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) makes a clear statement on the rights of children with disabilities.

It is argued that disabled women and girls experience double marginalisation on account of their gender and impairment. In patriarchal societies, the social role of women and girls is often primarily defined through motherhood and homemaking. With few opportunities to fulfill those ideals, disabled women and girls will often experience more discrimination than non-disabled peers.

Girls who are disabled are especially vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse, especially if living in institutional care where there is a lack of oversight and they are seen as easy targets. Their low value as girls and being disabled make them doubly discriminated against. Cultural beliefs regarding HIV/Aids and virginal rape; and the perception that disabled girls are asexual, compound this further. In addition, negative cultural attitudes and stigma limit expectations of, and opportunities available to, children and youth with disabilities leading to exclusion from education and employment and an increased risk of turning to begging and becoming a street-child โ€“ bringing even more risks.

Despite the growing evidence of marginalisation experienced by disabled girls and women, general development programmes rarely include them.

So what are the challenges disabled girls face in accessing their rights under the UNCRC and UNCRPD. To what extent are NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) and national governments meeting the needs and rights of disabled girls? Are all the different types of disabilities under the UNCRPD being equally included in development programmes and policies? To what extent is gender exacerbating the issue? How can the larger development community ensure that it includes disabled girls within its own policies and programmes?

Using your own research and investigative methods, you are invited to delve into these issues and make the stories behind them come to life. Make sure you use facts to support your article.

80% of disabled people in developing countries live below the poverty line.

"Disabilities are yet another manifestation of global diversity. Let us always be committed to the fundamental principles of dignity and equality for all human beings." Kofi A. Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations

Email from: Marta Alejano

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition/2011-theme-disabled-girls

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