Ending Violence against Women and Children with Disabilities

Breaking the Barriers – Ending Violence and Abuse against Women and Children with Disabilities

The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) calls on Pacific Island States, Non Government Organisations, Faith-based Organisations , development partners and donors to break institutional barriers to adopt a more central role in the fight against violence and abuse against women and children with disabilities.

This year's global theme--From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World highlights the link between gender based violence and how this impacts the lives of women and children with disabilities to live in peace in their own homes and communities.

According to Chief executive Officer of PDF, Mr Setareki Macanawai “breaking the barriers is the message we would like to focus on for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence Campaign”.

“We also encourage human rights and civil society groups and networks who also are participating in the annual campaign to mainstream disability in their EVAW (Ending Violence against Women) policies and programs. We also call on these development partners to engage National Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) and PDF to ensure women and children with disabilities are protected from all forms of violence and abuse” he said.

Mr. Macanawai further challenged Pacific Governments to ensure that there is more support to strengthen the on-going efforts to secure accountability and justice for human rights violations, including serious crimes committed against women and children with disabilities.

The 16 Days campaign is an opportunity for Pacific Disability Forum to show its solidarity in the fight to end violence and abuse against women.

UNDP Pacific Sisters Report and the UNFPA A Deeper Silence Report showed that women and girls with disabilities are two or three times more likely to be victims of physical and sexual abuse compared to women without disabilities.

ENDS

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