Disability Rights Watch (DRW) says the impacts of climate change are hitting hard on women with disabilities.
DRW Director Wamundila Waliuya said the UN theme for 2022 International Women’s Day dubbed “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” is timely as it triggers wider reflection on how women who are at the center of families can be supported to build resilience in the wake of climate change and its impacts.
Mr Waliuya said that women in Zambia particularly those in rural areas have multiple barriers in access to services and support systems and are experiencing lower levels of productivity.
He also said that there is need to recognise that society is diverse as Zambia marks International Women’s Day and hence the need to harness the contributions of women with disabilities to sustainable national development.
“The Disability Rights Watch is also concerned that certain categories of persons with disabilities such as those with visual impairments and intellectual disabilities are failing to interpret climate change issues around them because they use temperature and sensitivity to interpret the environment,” he said.
