Addressing Sexual Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities in Migori County
Sexual gender-based violence poses a significant threat to women everywhere, but women and girls with disabilities face heightened vulnerabilities. In Migori County, particularly within the Kuria community, these individuals are at an increased risk of violence due to their gender and disability status. This article explores the challenges they face and emphasizes the urgent need for action.
Understanding the Vulnerabilities
Women and girls with disabilities are often targeted by perpetrators of violence due to a combination of factors, including social exclusion, limited mobility, a lack of support systems, communication barriers, and pervasive negative societal perceptions. These challenges create an environment where violence can flourish unchecked.
In the Kuria community, misconceptions about the sexuality of women with disabilities further complicate their situation. Many believe that these women are asexual, leading to a lack of information and resources regarding their sexual and reproductive health rights. This misinformation hampers their ability to access crucial health services and knowledge.
Barriers to Education and Support
Informing young girls with disabilities about their sexual and reproductive health rights is crucial, yet it remains a difficult task. Parents, educators, and counselors often struggle to address these topics, resulting in a lack of basic information for these young women. Without the necessary vocabulary and understanding, they find it challenging to articulate when they are being abused, leaving them vulnerable.
Additionally, when cases of violence are reported, justice is often elusive. Many perpetrators are caregivers or family members, which complicates the pursuit of justice. Tragically, societal attitudes sometimes dismiss the experiences of women with disabilities, viewing them as unreliable witnesses due to misconceptions about their mental capacity.
Vera’s Advocacy Efforts
For the past four years, Vera has dedicated her efforts to empowering women and girls with disabilities across various counties in Kenya. Based in Nairobi, she works at the grassroots level to advocate for their rights. Vera collaborates closely with communities, service providers, and policymakers to implement strategies that prevent violence against women and girls with disabilities.
Recently completing a professional fellowship on inclusive civic engagement at Temple University in Philadelphia, Vera aims to adopt a multisectoral approach. She seeks to involve local government officials, women and girls with disabilities, and community members in a unified effort to combat sexual violence in the Kuria West sub-county.
The Call to Action
Vera emphasizes the need for stakeholders to develop inclusive and accessible services and programs that protect women and girls with disabilities from all forms of violence. This includes improvements in healthcare services, police stations, shelters, and legal systems.
“Let’s invest in empowering women with disabilities to know their sexual rights and how to protect themselves,” Vera urges.
By raising awareness and providing education, we can help ensure that women and girls with disabilities in Migori County have the support they need to live free from violence and to advocate for their rights effectively.
Conclusion
Addressing sexual gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities in Migori County requires collective action. By fostering awareness and creating supportive environments, we can work towards a future where all women and girls, regardless of their abilities, are safe and empowered to exercise their rights.
BY VERA ROBI
