Workshop aimed towards full and effective participation and gender equality
@JournalistAadil
Srinagar: It is estimated that more than one billion people in the world experience some form of disability. The average prevalence rate in the female population 18 years and older is 19.2%, compared to 12%, for males, representing about one in five women.
The Indian Army in collaboration with Spreading Smile Charitable Trust, Ahmedabad, organised a one day long awareness workshop on Empowering Women with Disabilities at Krusan.
Dr Nishta Thaker, a renowned motivational speaker, social worker and founder of Smile Charitable Trust, Ahmedabad, Dr Mohammad Shafi, national motivational speaker and founder of Widows, Orphans and Disabilities Trust, Khalida Yaseen, Women Welfare Officer, Kupwara, Abdul Qayoom Wani, Child Development Program Officer, Sogam, Tariq Ahmed, founder of Special Hands Trust, Kashmir and Kashmir Young Leadership Awardee, Mehnaza Wani, a renowned social worker and Kashmir Young Leadership Awardee, delivered motivational speeches and spread awareness about importance of equality and women empowerment of women and girls with disabilities that will help towards achieving full and effective participation from all sections of the society and achieving gender equality.
Women and girls with disabilities face systemic marginalization and attitudinal and environmental barriers that lead to lower economic and social status; increased risk of violence and abuse, including sexual violence, discrimination as well as harmful gender-based discriminatory practices, and barriers to access education, health care, including sexual and reproductive health, information and services, and justice as well as civic and political participation. This hinders their participation on an equal basis with others.
The motivation cum awareness workshop on women empowerment for women and girls with disabilities by the Indian Army in collaboration with Smile Charitable Trust, Ahmedabad is a positive ray of hope to build better society for gender equality and justice for women and girls with disabilities and absorbing them in mainstream with dignity and respect. Various schemes for women and girls with disabilities were also briefed in detail to the participants.
The workshop was attended by about 85 women with disabilities and Anganwadi workers from Lolab valley in Kupwara district of North Kashmir and benefited from the same which was appreciated by local people.
