On September 24th, during the first week of the General Assembly in New York, the International Disability Alliance joined a high-level panel welcoming the UNFPA’s groundbreaking study “Young Persons with Disabilities: Global Study on Ending Gender-based Violence and Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights” on gender based violence (GBV) and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) amongst young persons with disabilities. His Excellency Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, opened the session by emphasizing Spain’s ongoing dedication to increasing research on GBV against women and girls with disabilities and increasing access to SRHR for youth with disabilities.
Vladimir Cuk, IDA Executive Director, praised the development of this study which provides up to date information and qualitative data on GBV and SRHR amongst youth with disabilities, and highloighted that this study shows the glaring lack of data and information on SRHR as it intersects with youth, gender, and disability- an intersection that constitutes a remarkably large and overlooked population.
Stressing the vital role civil society plays, Mr. Cuk highlighted that organization of persons with disabilities, have the unique ability to reach and provide accessible platforms for the contribution of marginalizedpopulations within the disability community- such as those with psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities,those living with HIV/AIDS and those from indigenous communities- who are continually overlooked. Mr Cuk added that we should continue the momentum started by the development of this report and other international commitments such as thiose made at the UK Disability Summit in June, to increasingly advocate for SRHR of all persons with disabilities, particularly youth and women with disabilities.
Moderated by Ana Palaez, member of the CEDAW Committee, the high level panel included representatives from the UK and Mozambique, UNFPA Director Dr Nattalia Kanem, youth representative Vibhu Sharma of the Global Partnership on Youth with Disabilities, and Nyle DiMarco, actor and Deaf Activist.
Download the UNFPA/Spain study linked here: https://www.unfpa.org/publications/young-persons-disabilities
