Gender-based violence against people with disabilities (PWDs) was the main topic of the first consultation on the issue held in the central coastal city of Da Nang on April 19^th.

People with disabilities are at higher risk of violence than other groups due to their limited ability to communicate. (Photo courtesy to U.N. Women)

Co-organised by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (U.N. Women), the Centre for Inclusive Development Action and the Da Nang Association for the Handicapped (DAH), the workshop saw the participation of more than 50 local PWDs.

It aimed to identify prominent issues related to gender-based and sexual violence against PWDs, as well as highlighting the barriers they face, especially women and girls with disabilities, in accessing preventive and supportive services.

The consultation is one of the activities held in response to the Vietnam Day of PWDs (April 18^th) and to raise awareness among the community and stakeholders, especially local authorities, in efforts to prevent gender-based violence against PWDs.

According to U.N. research, women and girls with disabilities are twice as likely to experience domestic violence as other women. In Vietnam, there is no official study on the status and extent of violence against PWDs.

The event provides practical information for people with disabilities in preventive measures against violence. (Photo courtesy to U.N. Women)

Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Head of the U.N. Women Office in Vietnam, emphasised that gender stigma and disability status puts women and girls with disabilities at a higher risk of being victims of violence, including isolation and systematic violence and being prevented from the use of drugs and other aids. In particular, women and girls with disabilities are at risk of being coerced into treatment and reproductive health care without their consent.

To achieve the goals of sustainable development in Vietnam, it is necessary to make a systematic commitment to ensure that "no one is left behind," she said, adding that comprehensive and sensitive policies should be set forth with thorough consideration of the needs of PWDs, including women and girls with disabilities.

Truong Cong Nghiem, Chairman of the DAH, said that the city has a range of good programmes and policies to help prevent gender-based, domestic, and sexual violence, however, there are not many programmes for PWDs so far, while this unfortunate group of people is at higher risk of violence than others due to their limited ability to communicate.

The seminar provided practical information for PWDs in preventive measures against violence, as well as offering reliable addresses to help PWDs who suffer from gender violence./.

VNF/NDO