Promoting Women with Disabilities in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

Promoting Women with Disabilities in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

When conflict and crises emerge in countries, women with disabilities are among the most vulnerable. As social order breaks down, support services for women with disabilities are usually the first to be abandoned. They are least likely to enjoy access to humanitarian assistance, health and protective services, and transit to places of refuge. They are most vulnerable to gender-based violence and other abuses. Rarely are refugee and IDP camps designed with their needs in mind. Equally important, these women are typically absent from peace negotiations and post-conflict recovery programs. The vital lessons from grassroots that they could bring to peace processes and humanitarian relief efforts are lost through their non-participation.

Mobilizing Allies for Women, Peace and Security (MAWPS), a program of Our Secure Future and Mobility International USA (MIUSA) are now partnering with dozens of women-led disability organizations in conflict-affected and transition countries, including Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Romania, Tanzania, and the region of West Africa. While the initiatives and focus of these groups vary from country to country, in all cases an important priority and advocacy goal is promoting the leadership and participation of people with disabilities (especially women) in peace processes, conflict transformation, and peacebuilding. 

The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS), MIUSA, and MAWPS will host a virtual panel to share important lessons from women-led disability programs in conflict-affected and transition countries with the broader gender, disability, and peacebuilding communities. The panel will discuss the importance of reaffirming and committing to the inclusion of women, indigenous populations, ethnic and religious minorities, the LGBTQI+ community, and other marginalized groups at a moment of diversity, equity, and inclusion backsliding in some quarters. The event will bring together students, scholars, and policymakers to recognize women with disabilities as effective leaders in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

Featuring keynote remarks by:

Miyeon Kim
Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; MIUSA Fellow

A panel featuring:

Aisyah Ardani
Inclusive Education Specialist and Researcher; Disability Development Forum, Indonesia

Sefakor G.M.A. Komabu-Pomeyie (Ph.D.)
International Disability Rights Advocate & Founder of Enlightening and Empowering People with Disabilities in Africa (EEPD Africa)

Susan Sygall
CEO and Co-Founder, Mobility International USA (MIUSA)

Kirt Toombs
President, United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD)

Moderated by:

Carla Koppell
Managing Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security; Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, School of Foreign Service