Sherab Lhamo

Last year, for the first time, Respect, Educate Nurture and Empower Women (RENEW) recorded 10 cases from Persons with Disabilities who faced gender-based violence (GBV).

There are no case studies on the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) within the disabled community, but officials from the Disabled Peoples’ Organisation of Bhutan (DPOB) express concern that raising awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) remains a major challenge in the country.

The 2023 national health survey reports that 6.8 percent of the Bhutanese population lives with some form of disability.

Kinley Wangchuk, executive director of DPOB, said that ongoing efforts are being made to educate the public on creating an inclusive society.

“There is a need to empower PWDs about their rights on various topics such as GBV and where to seek services as societal perceptions often underestimate their capabilities and potential,” he said.

He shared a story of a woman with a disability who once felt like a “lesser human being” due to societal stigma, leaving her unaware of her rights. However, after joining DPOB, she experienced a transformative change. The support and platform provided by the organisation helped her overcome self-doubt and empowered her to confidently advocate for her rights.

He also highlighted the challenges of sensitising and advocating for PWDs at the grassroots level, noting that many depend on others for basic needs and mobility, with some being bedridden. PWDs with limited mobility face additional barriers in accessing sensitisation programmes due to physical obstacles or a lack of accessible transportation.

DPOB incorporates sessions on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in various projects, including housekeeping training.

DPOB has provided housekeeping training to 16 PWDs, including nine with deafness, two with hearing impairments, three with low vision, and two with physical disabilities. This was part of a two-month hotel management training programme last year, which also included sessions on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

He said that it was essential to sensitise PWDs about SRHR to ensure they understand their rights and can protect their safety.

For advocacy, DPOB is offering Disability Equality Training (DET) to promote the inclusion and empowerment of PWDs across various sectors, including health, education, and employment. The training is designed to equip policymakers, corporate agencies, civil servants, and others with the knowledge of the challenges faced by PWDs and their rights, fostering an inclusive society.

A unique aspect of this training is that the trainers themselves are persons with disabilities. Kinley Wangchuk emphasised the importance of this approach, reflecting the organisation’s motto: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”

He explained that the true understanding of the challenges faced by PWDs can only be achieved by learning from their lived experiences.

He also shared that during DET, they taught local government officials how to effectively include PWDs in their plans.

Regarding the justice system, Kinley Wangchuk highlighted the need for an inclusive and accessible system.

This involves addressing physical barriers, such as installing ramps and providing accessible technology, as well as creating policies that cater to the needs of people with disabilities, including those who are blind.

So far, DPOB has delivered DET in 10 dzongkhags in the central and eastern regions and plans to extend the training to the remaining 10 dzongkhags this year.

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