Women with disabilities face double discrimination

ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (APP):Civil society and Legislators Wednesday highlighting the plight of autistic women demanded their social protection, saying women with disabilities were more prone to the sexual abuse, physical torture and violence.
The social societies and other women organizations working in Pakistan needed to be more focused on minimizing the vulnerability of women with disabilities.
Talking to APP, Ghulam Nabi Nizamani, Chairperson Community Based Rehabilitation Network (CBRN) said special women were being discriminated on three fronts. “Disabled females are being treated differently at home then being isolated in society due to cultural taboos and lastly they do not get access to public transportation due to disabilities,” he said.
He said that it was committed in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that no one is left behind so authorities concerned should devise appropriate strategy for this segment of society in pursuance of its commitment to the world.
“Especially mentally retarded women are more prone to sexual abuse as they remain oblivious even after commission of such abusive acts”, he added.
Naeema Kishwar a Member of National Assembly JUI-F said women with disabilities needed more attention because they were kept at their homes instead of providing them with educational and job opportunities.
She stressed on practicing the Islamic teachings and sensitize the community regarding disabled women’s rights so that they could be saved from social discrimination.
A Senator and ex- Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Najma Hamed termed women with disabilities as more talented and adroit part of the society as they were doing good in different social welfare institutions by participating in exhibitions with their handicrafts that has also become their source of income.
She however urged the concerned authorities to provide them more platforms and arrange the festivals at local level so that they could show their talent to the world.