Guaranteeing Rights at the Intersection of Gender and Disability in the COVID-19 Response
In August 2020, WEI partnered with UNFPA, UN Women, and seven women-with-disability-led organizations to document and respond to the lived experiences of women, girls, and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis.
More than 300 persons with disabilities and their advocates across the world shared their experiences with us, with a particular focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, the right to freedom from violence, and related rights. As a result of this research, we produced the five resources below to guide pandemic response and recovery and seek to set a new standard for future crisis preparation that ensures human rights and inclusion at the intersection of gender and disability.
June 14, 2021
UNPRPD, UNFPA, and WEI
The Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls with Disabilities: A Global Assessment and Case Studies on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender-Based Violence, and Related Rights
June 14, 2021
UNPRPD, UNFPA, and WEI
Compendium of Good Practices during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ensuring Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Women and Girls with Disabilities
June 14, 2021
WEI and UNFPA
COVID-19, Gender, and Disability Checklist: Ensuring Human Rights-Based Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women, Girls, and Gender Non-conforming Persons with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- COVID-19, Gender and Disability SRHR Checklist [PDF]
- COVID-19, Gender and Disability SRHR Checklist [Accessible /Microsoft Word]
- Easy Read Format: COVID-19, Gender, and Disability Checklist [Microsoft Word]
- Easy Read Format: COVID-19, Gender, and Disability Checklist (Asia-Pacific Region) [Microsoft Word]
June 14, 2021
UN Women and WEI
Women, Girls, and Gender Non-Conforming People with Disabilities — Know Your Rights! Gender-Based Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic
June 14, 2021
UN Women and WEI
COVID-19, Gender, and Disability Checklist: Preventing and Addressing Gender-Based Violence against Women, Girls, and Gender Non-conforming Persons with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Women, girls, nonbinary, trans, and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities have been left behind In efforts to respond to COVID-19. WEI seeks to articulate issues impacting rights at the intersection of gender and disability and provide guidance to governments, healthcare providers, and other organizations involved in the response to this global crisis.
Available in English and Spanish
REPORT: COVID-19 at the Intersection of Gender and Disability: Findings of a Global Survey This WEI report published in May 2020 pulls together responses to a global survey from 100 women, non-binary, and trans persons with disabilities and seeks to provide the guidance for responding to this crisis in a way that protects rights at the intersection of gender and disability. Includes summary article in English and Spanish. Read more
More WEI publications and news posts in response to the global coronavirus pandemic:
- Submission to the CEDAW Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Women and GirlsThis submission presents an overview of the main barriers faced by indigenous women and marginalized genders with disabilities to fulfil their human rights at the intersection of gender and disability Continue reading Submission to the CEDAW Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls
- New Publications — Guaranteeing Rights at the Intersection of Gender and Disability in the COVID-19 ResponseFive new resources to guide pandemic response and recovery and seek to set a new standard for crisis preparation that ensures human rights and inclusion at the intersection of gender and disability. Continue reading New Publications — Guaranteeing Rights at the Intersection of Gender and Disability in the COVID-19 Response
- Submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Preparation of a General Comment on Article 27 of the CRPD (the right to work and employment) This submission highlights how discrimination at the intersection of gender and disability leads to significant pay gaps, unemployment, harassment in the workplace, and other issues that disproportionately impact women and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities as related to work and employment, including as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Continue reading Submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Preparation of a General Comment on Article 27 of the CRPD (the right to work and employment)
- Disabled Women in Africa and Women Enabled International: Joint Submission to the Human Rights Committee for its Development of Malawi’s List of Issues Prior to Reporting This submission, done in partnership with Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA), highlights human rights abuses against women and girls in Malawi, including in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. Continue reading Disabled Women in Africa and Women Enabled International: Joint Submission to the Human Rights Committee for its Development of Malawi’s List of Issues Prior to Reporting
- Feminists with Disabilities Joint Submission to the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls: Women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in situations of crisis This submission, produced in partnership between Women Enabled International (WEI), My Life My Choice (U.K.), CIMUNIDIS (Chile), Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre (India), Women with Disabilities India Network, HYPE Sri Lan, ka, and Disabled Women in Africa (Malawi), highlights how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women, girls, and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities. Continue reading Feminists with Disabilities Joint Submission to the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls: Women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in situations of crisis
- WEI Submission on Domestic Violence and COVID-19 at the Intersection of Gender and Disability to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against WomenAlongside the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased risk of domestic violence for women, girls, non-binary, trans, and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities. WEI reported information from its own research and that of organizations around the world to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women about this “hidden pandemic” of domestic violence. Continue reading WEI Submission on Domestic Violence and COVID-19 at the Intersection of Gender and Disability to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
- Response to U.N. Special Procedures Questionnaire on COVID-19 and Human RightsWEI, as a member of the Nairobi Principles Working Group, submitted information to several U.N. human rights experts on the situation of rights related to gender, disability, and sexuality during the COVID-19 crisis. This information will be used to inform the global human rights response to this pandemic. Continue reading Response to U.N. Special Procedures Questionnaire on COVID-19 and Human Rights
- Women Enabled International Demands JusticeWomen Enabled International stands with protestors around the world in demanding justice and action to address the systemic human rights violations in the United States that contribute to the ongoing oppression of members of the Black community in any form—from police violence, police failures to address gender-based violence and government failures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which disproportionally impact the Black community. Continue reading Women Enabled International Demands Justice
- COVID-19 at the Intersection of Gender and Disability: Findings of a Global SurveyWEI report pulls together responses to a global survey from 100 women, non-binary, and trans persons with disabilities and seeks to provide the guidance for responding to this crisis in a way that protects rights at the intersection of gender and disability. Continue reading COVID-19 at the Intersection of Gender and Disability: Findings of a Global Survey
- From Global Coordination to Local Strategies: A Practical Approach to Prevent, Address and Document Domestic Violence under COVID-19A practical guide for preventing, addressing, and documenting domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. A collaboration of WEI, MADRE, Media Matters for Women, MenEngage Alliance, Nobel Women’s Initiative, OutRight Action International, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Continue reading From Global Coordination to Local Strategies: A Practical Approach to Prevent, Address and Document Domestic Violence under COVID-19
- Endorse the Statement on Rights at the Intersection of Gender and Disability During COVID-19In efforts to respond to COVID-19, women, girls, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities have been left behind. This Statement seeks to articulate particular issues that are impacting rights at the intersection of gender and disability during this crisis and provide guidance to governments, United Nations entities, healthcare providers, and civil society organizations who are involved in the response. Read the full Statement here. Continue reading Endorse the Statement on Rights at the Intersection of Gender and Disability During COVID-19