Girls and women with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination and abuse. Isolation, compounded by dependency on caregivers, renders them extremely vulnerable to many forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, with attendant risks, including of HIV infection, pregnancy and maternal and infant death. Girls and women with disabilities are largely invisible in mainstream gender equality programmes. Information concerning sexual and reproductive health, general health care, and related services is seldom in formats and language that are accessible. The true promise of the Decade will be fully realized only when girls and women with disabilities are active participants in mainstream development.
Target 6.A
Enable girls and women with disabilities to have equitable access to mainstream development opportunities
Target 6.B
Ensure representation of women with disabilities in government decision-making bodies
Target 6.C
Ensure that all girls and women with disabilities have access to sexual and reproductive health services on an equitable basis with girls and women without disabilities
Target 6.D
Increase measures to protect girls and women with disabilities from all forms of violence and abuse
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
- 6.1. Number of countries that include the promotion of the participation of women and girls with disabilities in their national action plans on gender equality and empowerment of women
- 6.2. Proportion of seats held by women with disabilities in the parliament or equivalent national legislative body
- 6.3. Proportion of girls and women with disabilities who access sexual and reproductive health services of government and civil society, compared to women and girls without disabilities
- 6.4. Number of programmes initiated by government and relevant agencies aimed at eliminating violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation, perpetrated against girls and women with disabilities
- 6.5. Number of programmes initiated by government and relevant agencies that provide care and support, including rehabilitation, for women and girls with disabilities who are victims of any form of violence and abuse