True equality is not a selective privilege, yet for decades, the global movement for women’s rights has frequently operated as if it were. When we speak of the fight for gender justice, we often envision a universal struggle, but the reality is that millions of women are left at the periphery of this progress. The movements for gender equality and disability inclusion are not merely parallel paths; they are deeply and inextricably interconnected. To champion one while ignoring the other is to build a house on a fractured foundation. We have not truly achieved equal voting rights if a woman with mobility challenges cannot physically enter a polling station or access a ballot. We cannot claim to have secured freedom from gender-based violence if survivors with visual or hearing impairments are met with a justice system that lacks the tools to hear their testimony. Furthermore, the modern tide of digital abuse cannot be turned without ensuring that women and girls with disabilities have safe, equitable access to the very technology required to live with autonomy and dignity.
Despite the clear overlaps, a significant portion of global efforts to expand the rights of women and girls fails to account for those living at the intersection of sexism and ableism. This oversight creates a "double burden" where systemic barriers in the physical and digital worlds reinforce one another, trapping women with disabilities in cycles of exclusion. As we observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, it is imperative to examine why the liberation of all women is dependent on a disability-inclusive approach to human rights.
The concept of intersectionality is often treated as an academic buzzword, but for women with disabilities, it is a lived, daily reality. While many women share the common struggles of gender-based bias, disproportionate care burdens, and a lack of representation in leadership, these challenges do not manifest in a vacuum. A woman’s experience of the world is shaped by a mosaic of identities—her race, age, class, and physical or cognitive abilities. When these identities collide with systemic injustice, the resulting discrimination is not just additive; it is exponential. Racism, sexism, and ableism do not simply sit side-by-side; they exacerbate each other, creating unique hurdles that a one-size-fits-all feminist approach cannot clear. UN Women’s advocacy emphasizes that to promote rights for the collective, we must first understand the specific, systemic ways individuals are marginalized. True empowerment for "all" women means dismantling the specific structures that prevent a woman with a disability from accessing a boardroom, a classroom, or a doctor’s office.
Nowhere is this intersection more visible than in the realm of care work. Globally, women perform an estimated 16 billion hours of unpaid care work every single day. This labor—comprising cooking, cleaning, fetching water, and providing emotional and physical support for family members—is the invisible engine that prevents the collapse of the global economy. Yet, this work is chronically undervalued. In the context of disability, the absence of robust, state-supported care systems creates a precarious environment for both the caregiver and the recipient. When society fails to provide equitable support, people with disabilities are placed at a heightened risk of human rights violations, including forced institutionalization, inadequate care, and even non-consensual medical treatments.
Furthermore, women and girls with disabilities are often the ones providing this care, shouldering heavy domestic responsibilities within their families while simultaneously battling social stigma and restricted economic opportunities. A "care revolution" is necessary to shift this paradigm. This involves moving away from models that rely solely on the exploited labor of women and toward community-based models that prioritize dignity. Such systems must provide resources for parents of children with special needs and specific support for women with disabilities who are themselves caregivers. By recognizing, redistributing, and rewarding care work, society can ensure that disability-inclusive services are a right, not a luxury.
The quote from a survivor of polio underscores the necessity of this grassroots advocacy: "I grew up in a very difficult situation. This is why I formed a group of women with disabilities—to amplify the voice, to create awareness, to advocate for rights—so that at least people should learn from us." This sentiment highlights a crucial truth: women with disabilities are not passive recipients of aid; they are leaders and experts in their own lives who are actively reshaping the narrative of what inclusion looks like.
In the digital age, the frontier of equality has shifted toward technology. Assistive technology (AT) and digital innovations hold the potential to be the great equalizers, offering women with disabilities unprecedented levels of autonomy, communication, and access to services. From screen readers to AI-driven mobility aids, these tools can bridge the gap between isolation and participation. However, this digital revolution is a double-edged sword. As technology advances, so does the prevalence of technology-facilitated violence. Statistics indicate that between 16 and 58 percent of women globally have been impacted by digital abuse, ranging from online stalking to AI-generated harassment.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a particularly complex challenge. While AI can power life-changing assistive tools, it can also codify and amplify existing prejudices. Most AI systems are developed without the meaningful input of people with disabilities and are trained on datasets that either exclude them entirely or rely on harmful stereotypes. The result is a "coded bias" where algorithms fail to recognize diverse communication styles or accessibility needs. This has real-world consequences, leading to discriminatory outcomes in everything from job recruitment and education to healthcare access. To combat this, UN Women is calling for a fundamental shift in tech development. We must move toward "universal design" principles where diversity is baked into the code from day one, ensuring that AI expands opportunities rather than acting as a digital gatekeeper that reinforces ableist norms.
Finally, the fight for equality must be anchored in accountability and the rule of law. Historically, legal reforms for women’s rights and disability rights have been siloed, treated as separate issues in policy papers and legislative chambers. This fragmentation leaves women with disabilities in a legal vacuum. For justice to be truly accessible, the legal system must undergo a radical transformation. Currently, women with disabilities face immense barriers when attempting to interact with law enforcement or the courts. In many regions, a lack of sign-language interpreters outside of urban centers renders deaf women functionally silent in the eyes of the law. There is also a persistent, damaging assumption that women with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities are not "credible" witnesses, often leading to their testimonies being dismissed.
Accountability also means ensuring that women are not forced to rely on potentially abusive family members for physical or economic access to the justice system. UN Women’s work in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action emphasizes that disability inclusion must be a core component of all international accountability frameworks. This includes the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), which seeks to strengthen the capacity and coherence of the UN’s own internal and external policies.
Ultimately, the goal is a world where no woman or girl is forced to choose between her gender and her disability when seeking justice, education, or safety. The movements for disability rights and women’s rights are not just stronger together—they are inseparable. When we remove the barriers for women with disabilities, we create a more accessible, just, and empathetic world for everyone. The path to 2030 and beyond requires us to listen to the voices of those at the intersection, ensuring that the "collective" we fight for truly includes every woman, everywhere.
