The Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls With Disabilities
2021
This report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Women Enabled International describes the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls with disabilities worldwide, with specific focus on their sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). The report highlights four case studies from around the world that illuminate this impact, from Malawi, England, Chile, and Fiji.
During the pandemic, barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, goods, and services grew for women and girls with disabilities -- connected to a variety of social factors. For example, social distancing guidelines made it challenging for some women and girls to bring sign language interpreters or other assistants to access SRH care. In addition, women and girls with disabilities have experienced even more risk factors for gender-based violence during pandemic, while many simultaneously lost access to healthcare, education, employment, and other necessary supports.
The report focuses on ways to ensure the full realization of the SRHR of women and girls with disabilities. It is accompanied by multiple resources to support individuals working with women and girls with disabilities, such as a compendium of best practices, an SRHR checklist, a gender-based violence checklist, a "Know Your Rights" guide, among others.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls With Disabilities
Source:
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. United Nations Population Fund, Women Enabled Internation 2021. https://www.unfpa.org/featured-publication/impact-covid-19-women-and-girls-disabilities.