As one of the national government agencies pushing for the advancement of women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expresses its full support to the 13th Women with Disabilities Day, which will happen tomorrow, March 28, at the Philippine Arena in Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan.

The event which carries the theme, “Babaeng May Kapansanan, Manguna at Manindigan Tungo sa Pagbabago”, aims to endorse the need for societal reforms slated towards the empowerment and reduction of inequalities for women with disabilities.

Moreover, it also encourages women with disabilities to advance their rights and to engage in programs that promote and improve their skills, talents and capabilities.

“We dream of a society where women and PWDs’ rights are acknowledged, respected and upheld because genuine development cannot happen without their advancement in a society where they are vulnerable to discrimination, abuse, oppression, and exploitation,” stated DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.

Sec. Taguiwlao said that women and girls with disabilities face many types of discrimination.

“They face double discrimination based on their gender and disability. But this is not the worst of it: this inequality is worse for women and girls with disabilities and who are members of marginalized ethnic or racial groups or part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.  Women with disabilities find it even harder to find jobs and means of livelihood. According to the United Nations, 75 percent of women with disabilities are unemployed and women with disabilities who are given less than their male counterparts and women who have no disabilities.

When it comes to education, gender disparities are also present.  It has been documented that the overall literacy rate for persons with disabilities is 3 percent, the UNESCO estimates that it is just 1 percent for women and girls with disabilities,” she said.

Other social realities are even more harsh.

“Women PWDs suffer worse gender-based violence compared to women and girls without disabilities. Women PWDs are often denied healthcare and medical services.  In the meantime, when healthcare services are available in their communities, because they have disabilities, many PWD women are either unable to physically access the said services, or government agencies and service providers are ill-equipped to accommodate them so they maximize the services,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that when women and girls with disabilities are excluded and when they are subjected to violence, society incurs heavy financial and social consequences.

“Discrimination against PWDs weakens economic development, exacerbates the limits of democracy, and makes society less humane and compassionate. This is highly unfortunate because women and girls with disabilities are made stronger by the challenges they face, and many of them have the strong potential to be leaders within their communities, and, given opportunities and the assistance they deserve, they can greatly contribute to the economic development of society. Disability inclusion is a policy of our government and the DSWD. We support disability-specific programs to address targeted needs, and we want to integrate disability into all our programs. We also support the efforts of various LGUs and companies in the private sector that require  the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their programs,” she said.

“Through programs and services geared towards the empowerment of women and PWDs, we hope to make a fair, just and equitable society that supports the participation of both sectors in programs, policies and social movements for the advancement of the marginalized sector,” the Secretary said.

The 13th Women with Disabilities Day is spearheaded by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) in partnership with the Department of Justice (DOJ) as this year’s chair of the National Working Committee. ###