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Tales of mothers of children with disabilities
She expressed that such statements hurt her and she cannot understand why people will say that, considering that she works for herself and lives a very modest life.
Alice鈥檚 story is one of the many sad experiences of women with disabilities or give birth to children with disabilities. They are blamed for the disabilities and stigmatised by many people. As a result, some women hide their children depriving them of basic human rights like access to education. It then needs strong women like Alice.
鈥淚 will not hide my son, he is human and he should be seen,鈥 quipped Alice.
UNESCO in partnership with UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women, under the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD), is implementing a project to amplify the voices of women like Alice, address negative cultural norms around disabilities and advocate for improved response and prevention of Gender-Based Violence.
The project complements the Government of Zimbabwe鈥檚 efforts in advancing the rights of women and girls with disabilities as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Persons with disabilities constitute about seven percent of Zimbabwe鈥檚 population. There is recognition of the plethora of challenges they face which include amongst others, access to health care and judicial services as well as to information.
The joint UN initiative is being implemented in 20 districts across Zimbabwe and is estimated to reach at least 500 000 women.
