In a society where women with disabilities often bear the brunt of multiple discriminations, Caritas India Community Based Rehabilitation (CI CBR) has been steadfast in its commitment to promote gender inclusion and uphold the rights of girls and women with disabilities.

Recognizing the prevalent challenges, CI CBR conducted a comprehensive gender study in the northeast region from 2019 to 2020, aiming to understand the intersections of gender and disability, identify barriers faced by women with disabilities, and assess the success and challenges of CBR programs in mainstreaming gender and women’s rights.

The findings paved the way for transformative recommendations:

Empowerment Through Leadership: Identify and nurture women with disabilities already assuming leadership roles within their communities and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). Provide support to enhance their capacities and facilitate their involvement in disability and gender-related programs.

Policy Influence and Governance: Equip women with disabilities with the skills to undertake policy influence initiatives and negotiate with government officials. Actively include them in local governance structures, creating dedicated spaces such as committees to enhance visibility and influence in decision-making processes.

Executive Inclusion: Ensure that women with disabilities are not just participants but leaders. Promote for their inclusion in executive positions within OPDs, giving them decision-making powers.

Enhanced CBR Initiatives: Take strategic steps to improve the focus on gender and disability within existing CBR projects, addressing identified gaps in programmatic efforts.

To bridge the identified gaps and put these recommendations into action, CI CBR developed a comprehensive plan of action. The organization maintained a vigilant approach, frequently reviewing the status of implementation.

CI CBR’s proactive measures included:

Sensitization and Capacity Building: Conducted programs to sensitize and build the capacity of program teams, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and OPD members, fostering a culture of addressing abuse and discriminatory attitudes.

Integration of Gender Inclusion: Woven into the fabric of program planning, gender inclusion became a cross-cutting agenda across various thematic areas of CBR, including health, education, livelihood, social, and empowerment.

SRHR Sensitization Programs: Undertook targeted sensitization programs on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), recognizing the unique needs of women with disabilities.

Forum Promotion: Actively promoted forums for women with disabilities across program locations, facilitating regular meetings, capacity building sessions on rights, and sustaining dialogues to combat gender discrimination.

Structural Reforms: Restructured governing bodies such as the General Body, Governing Body, and Executive Committees of OPDs, ensuring gender balance and women’s leadership.

Village-level Committees: Facilitated the formation of village-level stakeholders’ committees to drive gender inclusion at the grassroots level.

Support Networks: Established support groups for mothers/carers and children, creating spaces for enhanced social inclusion and education for children and girls with disabilities.

While CI CBR has made significant strides in promoting gender inclusion, the organization recognizes the ongoing need for intensified capacity building, leadership development, and network strengthening. By empowering women with disabilities, CI CBR aims to ensure the sustained impact of its efforts, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.