The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has pointed out the unique challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities globally, emphasizing the need for inclusive strategies to address their vulnerabilities.
Speaking at an event organised by the Almuhibbah Foundation in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Bauchi State, UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, represented by Deborah Tabara, Gender/Reproductive Health Analyst and Bauchi State Programme Officer for UNFPA, reiterated the global commitment to disability inclusion.
Dr. Kanem’s statement stressed that nearly one in six people worldwide lives with a disability, yet they remain under-represented in decision-making spaces.
“Persons with disabilities are excluded from policies that affect their lives, denying them their rights and choices,” she said.
The Executive Director also emphasized the compounded discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities due to gender, age, and ethnicity.
“Women with disabilities face higher rates of gender-based violence and are often denied access to reproductive health information,” she noted, adding that many are discouraged from having children, undermining their right to bodily autonomy.
The UNFPA disability inclusion strategy, Dr. Kanem explained, promotes the rights of persons with disabilities by addressing systemic barriers and delivering tailored reproductive health services.
She stressed the importance of inclusive societies, saying, “On this International Day for Persons with Disabilities, let us work together to build inclusive societies for the benefit of all.”
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In her remarks, Deborah Tabara highlighted efforts in Bauchi State to empower persons with disabilities.
She revealed that 300 individuals were trained in local trades such as food vending, cosmetology, and shoe-making.
This year’s initiative, she noted, was ten times larger than last year’s, reflecting the commitment of the First Lady, Hajiya (Dr.) Aisha Muhammed, to the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Tabara commended the Bauchi State Government for fostering an enabling environment for partnerships with UNFPA, emphasizing the importance of investing in women and girls.
“This investment is a step in the right direction to achieve economic empowerment and freedom from poverty,” she said.
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