Women with Disability in Timor-Leste Face Double Disadvantage
**Nota: Bele mos lee testu nee iha lian Tetun iha RHTO nia Blog
RHTO recently submitted a report to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women Committee, with the aim of ensuring the committee remembers to consider women with disability when they are reading the Government of Timor-Leste’s state report. RHTO staff interviewed 49 women with disability from across the country to inform this submission. This blog post summarises what we said. You can also read the full document here.
In Timor-Leste, women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination on the basis of both their gender and because of their disability. They are particularly disadvantaged in their right to education, access to health care, involvement in the labour market, as well as in participation in society. Furthermore, women and girls with disabilities experience violence and poverty. Among women with disability, women with intellectual disabilities are particularly subjected to discrimination and social exclusion.
The Government of Timor-Leste has made some steps that should help uphold the rights of women with disability. A National Policy for the Inclusion and Promotion of the Rights of People with Disabilities exists and there is a National Action Plan for People with Disabilities, although this is yet to be formally approved by the Council of Ministers. Unfortunately the Government has not yet signed or ratified the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. There is therefore still gaps in implementation, and a lack of information and awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities generally, and even less when it comes to specific services for women.
Women with disabilities often lack the relevant information to claim their rights and the obligations owed to them. It is common in Timor-Leste for women with disabilities to be considered unable to contribute to society. Even family members may wrongly believe that a girl with disability cannot learn or is unable to walk in the community alone. These attitudes can sometimes stem from a sense of protection and care. But this “charity model” view in which people with disability need to be protected can lead to negative outcomes.
Participation in other community activities is restricted for many women with disabilities. Women generally participate in public life at the local level less than men. For example, only 10 of 442 sucos (villages) across the country have a female chief. And women with disabilities face additional barriers, both because of their gender and their disability. One RHTO member, a woman with a vision impairment living in Manufahi District, said that she is not really able to participate in meetings occurring in her aldeia (sub-village). She is often not invited and the meetings are not accessible for her. Indeed, of the 49 women with disabilities recently interviewed, 67 per cent said they are not able to participate in community meetings.
Women with disabilities face challenges accessing school, and even if they are able to enter school, completion is low, with many leaving school early. Of the 49 women with disabilities interviewed, 35% had never attended school, and 53% had left school after only primary level. As a result, girls with disability are restricted from accessing higher education, which in turns restricts their access to the formal labour market.
Together with our members and partners, RHTO is working towards an inclusive society for all in Timor-Leste. Focusing on the rights and priorities of women with disability is crucial in order to achieve this.
