In a significant step towards promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, the Population Council, in partnership Diakonia and various governmental bodies and international organizations, organized a panel discussion focusing on the reproductive rights of women with disabilities in Egypt and Jordan.
The event was held on December 18, 2024, bringing together representatives from Egyptian ministries, the Egyptian Parliament and international organizations, along with experts and specialists in human rights, reproductive health, and disability from both countries.
The panel discussion highlighted the opportunities and challenges faced by women with disabilities in achieving their reproductive goals and discussed recommendations for policies and programs that would contribute to empowering them, both economically and socially.
This discussion comes within Egypt and Jordan’s efforts to achieve social justice and enable women with disabilities to gain their reproductive rights and to be fully integrated into society.
In her opening remarks, Population Council’s Egypt Country Director Dr. Nahla Abdel Tawab, emphasized the importance of focusing on the reproductive rights of women with disabilities as a basic human right, noting that the percentage of persons with disabilities ranges between 10-20% in the Arab region, with higher rates in conflict zones.
She highlighted that the reproductive health needs of women with disabilities have been overlooked for many years based on a false perception that persons with disabilities cannot or should not get married and have children.
Ambassador Dr. Moushira Khattab emphasized the National Council for Human Rights’ role in ensuring equal rights for all citizens and highlighted the Egyptian Constitution and law’s emphasis on protecting the rights of people with disabilities and the state’s commitment to providing services to all citizens with dignity and without discrimination.
Dr. Iman Karim, Director of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, confirmed that the Council has prioritized the reproductive rights of persons with disabilities and has collaborated with the Ministry of Health and Population on strengthening capacities of healthcare providers to deliver appropriate reproductive care for persons with disabilities.
In a similar vein, Member of Jordanian Senate Ms. Asia Yaghi emphasized the importance of empowering women with disabilities with information and skills to enable them to claim their rights and reject all forms of discrimination.
The participants recommended improving the provision of health care for persons with disabilities through training of medical staff and providing necessary job aids.
They also called for increasing the community’s awareness of persons with disabilities’ rights and enhancing their employment opportunities in the private sector, while supporting their independence through the provision of assistive technologies.
Finally, participants called for the explicit mention of reproductive health of persons with disabilities in national laws and educational curricula, conducting more research in this field, and strengthening the advocacy capabilities of organizations for persons with disabilities.
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