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Survey Report Launched

'Form nat'l body to ensure rights of women with disabilities'

Staff Corresponded
Although the country has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Perrons with Disabilities, the govern -ment has no specific programme for women with disabilities (WWD) to ensure their nghts, speakers at the launching ceremony of a survey report said yesterday.
They said different government and non-govemment organisations are working for the development of the people with disabilities. but as these programmes are not focused specifically on women, very few of them get benefits from the programmes.
They also suggested forming a national organisation which will work towards protecting the interest of physically challenged women and ensuring their increased access to education. health and employment.
The Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for the Physically Vulnerable (SARPV) organised the programme at Siam auditorium in the city to launch its report on ’Women with Disabilities in Bangladesh'.
The survey, conducted on 292 physically challenged women across the country from January to June this year, revealed that less than one percent of the WWD are aware of different programmes and projects of the Department of Social Services andtheNGOs.
However, 17.8 percent of women mentioned that they received some benefits from different government programmes that include pension, credit, training and cards under Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) and Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programmes.
The report revealed that 150 out of 292 women have received some education, but the rest 142 have no education.
It said the number of specialised educational institutions for the physically and mentally challenged persons is limited, and they are mostly located in urban areas, and that is why women with particular type of disability in rural areas have no opportunity to attend those institutions.
While presenting the key findings of the report, Prof Akter Hossain of public administration department of Dhaka University said only 30.8 percent of the WWD are involved in income generating activities while two-thirds of them have no income.
About communication and transport facilities, 55.1 percent of them mentioned that they face difficulties while boarding on and oil the transports.
"The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs does not have any programme for the WWD.” said Mahbub Kabir of ActionAid, adding that women with disabilities are often the victims of violence and sexual abuse and it is time to payheedtothem.
They also suggested that the organisations working for the physically challenged people should form a network to develop a common advocacy strategy and programme for establishing their rights.
Dr Nafeesur Rahman of NI OWD, Rina Roy of Manusher Jonno Foundation, Nirjharinee Hasan of Canadian High Commission and David Curtis of HealthlinkWorldwide also spoke.