The Role of Women with Disabilities in Community Based Inclusive Development

Women with disabilities are disadvantaged in several key areas when compared with other women, men with disabilities, and the society as a whole. Women with disabilities face a triple handicap and discrimination due to their disability, gender and developing world status. It is estimated that approximately 300 million women and girls around the world have a mental and/or
physical disability. Globally, women make up three-fourths of disabled persons in low and middle income countries; between 65 percent and 70 percent of these women live in rural areas. Despite this alarming situation, the resolution of the High Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly United Nations Headquarters, 22 September 2010 states that persons with disabilities, especially women with disabilities, have remained largely invisible in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 2000, persons with disabilities were absent, invisible and ignored by the Millennium Development Goals. Discrimination against so called non-disabled girls and women as a whole in the developing countries is an overwhelming reality.

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