The United Nations {UN} has partnered with women and disability representative organizations to fight against the abuse of women and girls with disability.
Persons with disabilities are a key constituency in Zimbabwe and are estimated to make up 7% of the population.
However, they remain invisible in all levels of society and face numerous challenges in accessing healthcare, jobs, education, and justice.
Women and girls with disabilities are also particularly vulnerable to discrimination due to their marginalized gender.
But the women’s movement and the disability organizations synergy are expected to strategize an approach to end violence and protect the freedom of girls and women with disability.
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding {MOU} between the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe {WCOZ} and other two disability organizations in Harare yesterday, National Coordinator of {WCOZ} Mrs. Sally Ncube said COZ and the two disability movements will protect women with disability since the country already has other existing bodies which protect women.
“I would like to share that as a country we also have violence and women response mechanisms which target four pillars.
“There is an issue of prevention and participation which makes sure that women and girls affected visit platforms and places for their voices to be heard and for them to speak out and be supported to justice and safety mechanisms,” she said.
Meanwhile, Acting Executive Director of the National Association of Societies for the Care of Handicapped {NASCOH} Mr. Henry Masaya promised to work with rural communities to protect the rights of girls and women with disabilities.
“In our initiatives to prevent sexual reproductive health rights violations and gender based violations we realize that we need to raise awareness to the community on the rights of people with disabilities.
“It is our belief that once the community accepts that people with disabilities including women and girls have rights that have to be respected then it will be responsible to mitigate against girls and women with disabilities,” he said.