Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls with disabilities

Women with disabilities are often subjected to double discrimination due to their gender and disability status and continue to be at a disadvantage in most spheres of society and development. Available data suggests that the gap is stark compared with men without disabilities: women with disabilities are three times more likely to have unmet needs for health care; three times more likely to be illiterate; two times less likely to be employed and two times less likely to use the Internet. Moreover, women with disabilities are at heightened risk of suffering sexual violence compared to those without disabilities.

See our new policy brief and infographic for more information on how to ensure inclusive and quality education for all persons with disabilities.

You can also visit our multimedia library to access additional policy briefs and infographics.

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The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU WIDER) will launch the World Social Report 2025 on Thursday, 24 April at 12:00 p.m. EDT…
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Joint Letter by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples- April 2025In our capacity as Expert Members of the United Nations…
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The 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 12 June 2025. As one of the world’s largest gatherings…