A recent seminar at The Daily Star Centre shed light on the challenges faced by women with disabilities in Bangladesh. Experts emphasized the significant marginalization and lack of access to essential rights and services across various sectors such as education, employment, healthcare, and legal support. The impact of these disparities on both the women and the nation as a whole is profound, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive interventions.
One key issue identified is the underrepresentation of women with disabilities in official statistics, creating a policy blind spot that hinders targeted interventions and resource allocation. This underreporting contributes to the persistent disparities faced by these women, with statistics showing higher illiteracy rates and limited participation in vocational training and the labor force compared to men with disabilities. The majority of employed women work in the informal sector, further limiting their opportunities for advancement.
In terms of healthcare, a significant portion of women with disabilities lack access to essential services due to factors like poverty, inadequate family support, and inaccessible infrastructure. Their gynaecological and reproductive health needs are often overlooked, and they experience disproportionately high rates of abuse, particularly those with intellectual and speech impairments.
Systemic exclusions exacerbate these challenges, with a lack of specific policies or dedicated support structures for women with disabilities. Access to legal recourse is also limited, as the legal system often fails to recognize disability status in court proceedings.
With women with disabilities constituting about 15 percent of the population, there is a call for the government to take concrete steps to address these issues. While government allowances for persons with disabilities have increased, a more strategic, multi-sectoral approach is needed to ensure meaningful support. Comprehensive institutional and legal measures are essential to protect these vulnerable individuals from abuse and exclusion, allowing them to realize their full potential. Additionally, increased research and funding for relevant organizations are crucial to improving the situation for women with disabilities in Bangladesh.