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During the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18), an in-person side event was held focusing on the rights and inclusion of indigenous women and girls with disabilities in Latin America. The event was organized by the Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations and the ONCE Social Group through its Foundation for Latin America (FOAL), with UN Women, the World Federation of the Deaf, and with the support of FILAC.
The event took place under COSP18's third sub-theme: Recognizing and addressing the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities and their role in promoting disability inclusion. It addressed both the legal frameworks and tangible actions currently in place to support the inclusion of indigenous women and girls with disabilities in the region.
Discussions highlighted the systemic barriers that this population continues to face—stemming from the intersection of disability, gender, and indigenous identity—often resulting in marginalization, poverty, and lack of access to fundamental services such as justice, education, healthcare, and employment. The overlapping layers of discrimination limit access to justice, development programs and funding, education, employment, healthcare, communication, and transportation services. Due to marginalization, poverty, and invisibility, indigenous persons with disabilities are not always able to voice their concerns and exercise their rights.
The event brought together key stakeholders and partners who shared concrete experiences, best practices and strategies towards the advancing on the rights of indigenous women and girls with disabilities.
It was highlighted the urgent need to work so that states Parties comply with the 2030 Agenda, specifically Goals 4, 5, and 10, to advance the rights established in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (article 6) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. As well as with General Recommendation 39 on the Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls.
UN Women underscored the importance of educational tools and care systems to achieve dignified work and gender equality, especially in the lead-up to the 2030 World Conference on Women.
FILAC shared its ongoing work to integrate disability rights across its flagship programs, notably through the Indigenous Women MILAC platform, which unites regional networks and promotes leadership of indigenous women with disabilities. The importance of autodetermination and political participation was highlighted.
The World Federation of the Deaf presented findings from research led by deaf people on the experiences of deaf indigenous women in Bolivia, revealing critical data on the compounded discrimination they face in accessing healthcare.
FOAL and CONALIVI shared insights from their initiatives in Colombia (La Guajira and Cauca), where digital education and assistive technologies are being implemented to promote the inclusion of indigenous girls and women with visual disabilities, while also addressing structural and cultural barriers.
Finally, stakeholders reaffirmed the need for intersectional approaches and rights-based strategies to ensure the full participation of indigenous women and girls with disabilities. It also emphasized the urgency of sustained investment in inclusive education, health, and community development to close persistent gaps and promote dignity, equality, and human rights. It is necessary the voice of indigenous women with disabilities themselves is heard.
This side event is part of the project: "Digital Education: Diverse Women with Disabilities” funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), implemented by the ONCE Foundation for Latin America (FOAL), the General Foundation of the Complutense University of Madrid, CONALIVI, and SURCOE.
UN WebTv recording: Watch here
