The status quo is disheartening for women with disabilities seeking justice for sexual and gender-based violence. They experience many of the same forms of violence as all women, including psychological, physical, sexual and economic. However, they suffer up to three times greater risk of rape and are twice as likely to be survivors of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence.[1] At the same time, they face additional barriers to access services, legal aid and adequate response in the justice system.

On 21 October 2021, UN Women and partners facilitated the participation of a delegation of Afghan women to speak at a series of events and high-level meetings at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security. The delegation included parliamentarians, women’s rights advocates, journalists, civil society leaders, and researchers.

A training course by UN Women in Yangon this week brings together 20 women from seven different ethnic groups to discuss women’s role in peacebuilding and help them claim their space in more than 15 peace processes currently underway in Myanmar.