This blog article was written by Marie Rabatel, France’s Candidate for the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2026.
Trigger warning: discussion of sexual violence
As a woman, a person with autism, and a survivor of sexual crimes committed because of my disability, I was silenced and institutionalised for far too long. It took me a long time to find my voice, and now I want it to be heard. I have developed the ability to turn personal experience into a catalyst for collective action, by combining practical expertise with the international legal framework. It is with a conviction forged by my own life experience – far removed from university lecture halls – and with unwavering determination that I am standing as a candidate for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Diagnosed with autism, I discovered athletics after being bullied at school and subjected to sexual abuse. I threw myself into it wholeheartedly until I became French discus champion and 4th at the School Olympic Games. After being left for dead by my attackers, I actively contributed to the development of legislation aimed at protecting persons with disabilities from violence, strengthening detection and prevention mechanisms, and facilitating the reporting and documentation of victims’ testimonies.
In 2016, I co-founded the Francophone Association of Autistic Women (AFFA), which defends the rights of children and women with disabilities, including autism, and raises awareness of the challenges they face. I still serve as its president today. Permanent member of the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children (CIIVISE), I act as an expert for French public institutions (the ‘Grenelle’ initiative against domestic violence, government departments).
My priorities focus on combating violence and promoting an inclusive society, based on the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities, on an equal footing with others, in all areas of life, including sport. My approach is one of co-creation, partnership and collaboration with all stakeholders.
My fight for dignity and resilience is, first and foremost, the fight against violence against women and children with disabilities.
It remains one of the most silent injustices of our time. I have devoted a large part of my work to breaking this silence, of which I myself was once a prisoner.
To prevent violence, I have helped create awareness-raising and training modules for those affected and professionals, and contributed to the development of prevention and advocacy tools such as ‘Règlosport’, the official tool of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
I have worked alongside organisations and experts to improve the enforcement of the rights of disabled people who are victims of sexual violence, so that they can be offered appropriate psychological support. The psychological trauma caused by violence must no longer be ignored; it must be recognised and addressed in order to be overcome.
I have worked to train police officers, gendarmes, and social, medical and judicial professionals so that they can better identify the signs of violence and support victims
Finally, I have taken this fight to the international stage, collaborating with organisations such as Handicap International and the UN, to ensure that the fight against such violence is recognised as a priority in all public policies. I was nominated by Denis Mukwege in 2025 to embody “the power of resilience and reconstruction” at the International Chair named after him.
My aim within the Committee ?
To make the fight against this violence an absolute priority, by strengthening protection mechanisms and guaranteeing access to justice for all victims and the right to reconstruction.
Sport is much more than just physical activity: it is a powerful tool for inclusion, empowerment, recovery and changing attitudes. As a victim of bullying at school and a survivor of rape, sport offered me a path to recovery and recognition, allowing me to finally be seen as a person in my own right and to reclaim my body, which had been destroyed by the rapes I endured. It enabled me to assert myself through action rather than through the words I lacked.
Promoting access to sport for all is at the heart of my work. I have supported local and international initiatives to adapt sports facilities and make disciplines accessible to people with disabilities. In 1998, I received honours from the IAAF for my performances and my commitment to making sport more accessible to all women worldwide.
My experience on the ground demonstrates that sport is a strategic lever for promoting the effective implementation of the rights of people with disabilities and for testing public policies that foster their full and effective participation on a larger scale. It is a sector ripe for innovation, where cooperation between public institutions, civil society organisations and economic actors is essential.
On the Committee, I aim to make sport a cornerstone of inclusion strategies, by encouraging States to integrate this dimension into their action plans.
To advance rights, my approach is pragmatic and rests on three principles.
Firstly, dialogue: My experience in diplomacy and advocacy has taught me to build bridges between the expectations of people with disabilities and political realities.
Secondly, the sharing of best practices: Some countries have implemented exemplary policies regarding accessibility, education, or employment for people with disabilities. My role will be to facilitate the exchange of these best practices, so that they may inspire other nations.
Finally, monitoring and evaluation: I am committed to supporting States in the effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so that rights do not remain mere declarations of intent.
Today, after more than twenty years of campaigning, I wish to continue my commitment and give the strongest possible voice to those who have none.