The women with disabilities rights of employment are recognised by the Pacific Ministers for Women.

The recognition which appears in the wording of the outcomes document of the meeting is significant because it means regional organisations will now have to work to ensure that the needs of disabled women are met. The group met at Novotel Covention Centre in Lami this week.

“The women with disabilities community are very excited that they got a very substantive paragraph in the outcomes document,” said civil society organisation, We Rise Caucus representative, Noelene Nabulivou.

“And it’s a paragraph that links to an international commitment,” she said explaining that it has the backing of international laws and conventions signed by Pacific governments.

“The conference recognised the right of persons with disabilities, including women, to work on an equal basis with others. This includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work that is freely chosen or accepted,” she said quoting the paragraph of their outcomes document.

Fiji Disabled People’s Federation office manager, Lanieta Tuimabu, told journalists at the meeting that women with disabilities should not be left behind.

“We believe that human rights is for everyone and I would like to see that women with disabilities will not be discriminated,” Ms Tuimabu said

She has been an active observer and contributor to the 13th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and sixth Pacific Ministers for Women meeting since Monday.

Ms Tuimabu said the triennial conference had given her a platform and more confidence to advocate on women with disabilities.

“Women with disabilities can also participate and earn their living through crafts,” she said.

“There is a lot of texts on women with disabilities but the way forward would be seeing the documents which advocate on this in our various government women ministries on how we could include disability in the various ministries; not only in the policies but also the budgetary allocations to support the work for us.

“By 2030, I wish to see that no woman with disability is left behind in the development, participation and decision making, playing leadership roles and taking part in various sector activities; and are not seen as a separate group but coming together as one with one voice,” Ms Tuimabu said.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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