Executive Committee member, Nadia Hadad, participated in the fourth Regional Arab Forum of Women with disabilities, which took place in Cairo, Egypt.
Different panels discussed:
- response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls with disabilities;
- barriers to weak economic participation of women and girls with disabilities;
- gender-based economic violence;
- status of women and girls with disabilities in political and decision-making processes.
Our President, Yannis Vardakastanis, spoke at the conference’s opening in his quality as chair of the International Disability Alliance.
On behalf of the European Disability Forum, Nadia Hadad attended a panel on the condition of women and girls with disabilities in crises and emergencies. She shared the European experience of girls and women with disabilities during the Russian war against Ukraine and the impact of the increased cost of living and the energy crisis.
The main issues emerging from the session included:
- Lack of data and research on women and girls with disabilities in crisis situations;
- Lack of consultation and involvement;
- Exclusion from decision-making in humanitarian aid: plans about reconstruction, peace-building processes, and recovery following disasters.
This results in the support provided by State and humanitarian agencies not being suitable for women and girls with disabilities.
Furthermore, the fact that the knowledge of women and girls with disabilities is ignored during reconstruction efforts leads to less inclusive results.