Pratima Gurung, an Indigenous woman from Nepal, smiles at the camera. — “If you look at the data in Nepal, people with disabilities comprise 2.2 percent of the total population. The fundamental challenge that [they] are facing is access [to] fundamental rights,” says Pratima Gurung.

News

Inclusive Justice

By Bhawana Majhi

Making Society Fair, Just and Equitable for Indigenous Women with Disabilities in Nepal

December 31, 2023

KATHMANDU, Nepal – There are 700,000 Indigenous women and girls with disabilities in Nepal. Violence against this group is rife and has deepened since the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2022 study reports that negative beliefs about disability and a lack of awareness about the rights of Indigenous women and persons with disabilities in Nepal are some of the reasons why they are at a high risk of violence.

DJP Fellow Bhawana Majhi interviews Pratima Gurung, an internationally renowned disability rights activist and the president of the National Indigenous Disabled Women Association – Nepal (NIDWAN), to dig deeper into these issues and how NIDWAN is addressing them.

Question: What inspired you to establish NIDWAN?

Answer: NIDWAN was established in 2015, after the post-earthquake situation, when adolescent Indigenous girls and women with disabilities had to face discrimination and violence that arose within the private and the public spheres. They had to spend [nearly] nine months in an open space and face different kinds of violence, such as domestic violence, language-based violence, economic and cultural violence [because their rights are not recognized by the state]. In education, civil services and other official work, Indigenous languages are not recognized. Indigenous women are insulted for their attire and denied their traditional livelihoods by imposing restrictions on them and criminalizing their occupations. Name-calling, insulting, harassment and stereotyping on the basis of their physical and ethnic attributes are common.

NIDWAN was established with a mission to unite young Indigenous women and girls with disabilities to make society fair, just and equitable for them.

Question: How does NIDWAN contribute to raising awareness among individuals with disabilities about their rights?

Answer: We primarily work at three levels. The first one is reaching an individual through membership. The second strategy is that we have our movement at the provincial level to work within the seven provinces of Nepal. And this is where the grassroots women, including Indigenous peoples with disabilities, can be part of those provincial networks. At the federal level also, we have those structures. And within these three structures, we try to reach Indigenous people and women with disabilities through membership, by building their capacity, by bringing them to the public domain and [making them aware] of their rights. We try to sensitize and [make them aware of] the rights of Indigenous peoples, on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), on the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities related [to] the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples). So, with these international instruments which Nepal has already ratified, we collectively build and create a very conducive and enabling space so they can express the challenges that they face in their day-to-day lives. And this is where we try to connect with them and amplify their voices.

Question: What are the challenges faced by people with various types of disabilities in Nepal?

Answer: If you look at the data in Nepal, people with disabilities comprise 2.2 percent of the total population. The fundamental challenge that [they] are facing is access [to] fundamental rights. We also find challenges related with disaggregated data, information, violence and discrimination. Access to justice and access to government services are major challenges. [In the recent past] they have also been facing challenges [because of] climate change disasters. Challenges related to lack of resources, data information, academic research and also the regular policy and advocacy from the organizations of people with disabilities (OPDs), meaningful participation and engagement of people with disabilities in decision making also [exist].

Question: What efforts has NIDWAN put in to address these challenges and create positive change?

Answer: NIDWAN has been working at the grassroots level, [which] is related [to] movement building. We have been working with OPDs, Indigenous peoples’ organizations, women’s organizations, [nationally] and in the states. We are also working with the UN agencies. We are generating evidence-based advocacy related [to] the lived experience of Indigenous peoples with disabilities. We are also working in different thematic areas that are related with environmental disaster, inclusive education, right to health, right to employment and other kinds of access and services.

Question: What are NIDWAN’s future plans?

Answer: NIDWAN’s future plans involve reaching more people, building capacity and empowering Indigenous women and girls with disabilities. We aim to address challenges like violence and discrimination while focusing on areas such as disaster resilience, education, healthcare and employment opportunities. Our ultimate goal is to create positive change by persisting in lobbying and advocacy efforts at local and provincial levels.

DJP Fellow Bhawana Majhi is an intern at the National Indigenous Disabled Women Association – Nepal (NIDWAN) and is actively engaged in contributing to national-level meetings, workshops, and training sessions on behalf of the organization.

News From the Global Frontlines of Disability Justice

Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, a blind Rwandan man, votes with a Braille ballot.

Advancing Democracy

Rwanda has made significant progress in making its elections more accessible, highlighted by the July 15 general elections where notable accommodations were provided. This was a major step forward in disabled Rwandans’ quest for equal rights and participation. “You cannot imagine how happy I am, for I have voted by myself and privately as others do accessibly,” says Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, who used a Braille voting slate for the first time. “Voting is a deeply emotional and meaningful experience for a person with any disability in Rwanda, reflecting a blend of pride, empowerment, and hope.”

Barriers to the Ballot

Despite legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act, barriers at the polls still hinder — and often prevent — people with disabilities from voting. New restrictive laws in some states, such as criminalizing assistance with voting, exacerbate these issues. Advocacy groups continue to fight for improved accessibility and increased voter turnout among disabled individuals, emphasizing the need for multiple voting options to accommodate diverse needs. ““Of course, we want to vote,” says Claire Stanley with the American Council of the Blind, “but if you can’t, you can’t.”

Democracy Denied

In 2024, a record number of voters worldwide will head to the polls, but many disabled individuals still face significant barriers. In India, inaccessible electronic voting machines and polling stations hinder the ability of disabled voters to cast their ballots independently. Despite legal protections and efforts to improve accessibility, systemic issues continue to prevent many from fully participating in the world’s largest democracy. “All across India, the perception of having made a place accessible,” says Vaishnavi Jayakumar of Disability Rights Alliance, “is to put a decent ramp at the entrance and some form of quasi-accessible toilet.”

Triumph Over Despair

DJP Fellow Esther Suubi shares her journey of finding purpose in supporting others with psychosocial disabilities. She explores the transformative power of peer support and her evolution to becoming an advocate for mental health. “Whenever I see people back on their feet and thriving, they encourage me to continue supporting others so that I don’t leave anyone behind,” she says. “It is a process that is sometimes challenging, but it also helps me to learn, unlearn, and relearn new ways that I can support someone – and myself.”

‘Our Vote Matters’

As Rwanda prepares for its presidential elections, voices like Daniel Mushimiyimana’s have a powerful message: every vote counts, including those of citizens with disabilities. Despite legal frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, challenges persist in translating these into practical, accessible voting experiences for over 446,453 Rwandans with disabilities. To cast a vote, blind people need to take a sighted relative to read the ballot. An electoral committee member must be present, violating the blind person’s voting privacy. “We want that to change in these coming elections,” says Mushimiyimana.

Voices Unsilenced

Often dismissed as a personal concern, mental health is a societal issue, according to Srijana KC, who works as a psychosocial counselor for the Nepali organization KOSHISH. KC’s own history includes a seizure disorder, which resulted in mental health challenges. She faced prejudice in both educational settings and the workplace, which pushed her towards becoming a street vendor to afford her medications. Now with KOSHISH, she coordinates peer support gatherings in different parts of Nepal. “It is crucial to instill hope in society, recognizing that individuals with psychosocial disabilities can significantly contribute,” she says.