International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on March 8, serves as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in shaping the future of food security globally. We delve into the challenges and progress in ensuring inclusive food security for women with disabilities. Our conversation with Betty Najjemba, Project Officer with African Disability Forum, highlights the barriers women with disabilities face, the impact of the WaA! programme, and the urgent need for policy changes to accelerate action.
What are the three major challenges faced by Ugandan women with disabilities when it comes to food security?
The three major challenges faced by Ugandan women with disabilities are:
- Cultural beliefs embedded in African traditional society, where assets like land are accustomed to being in ownership of men than women.
- Additionally, chronic poverty which has been in existence among women with disabilities for long, more specifically in rural areas, has proven hard for them to access, own and utilize land as resource for food security. The women cannot even afford the cheaper option of leasing of land for economic activities.
- Moreover, existing rules, laws, policies and procedures made it difficult or impossible for them to have access to land ownership. The process alone is long and a bit expensive for women with disabilities. Some are ignorant or illiterate to comprehend such procedures, which fully excludes them from securing land rights.
Could you elaborate on any key indicators that led to enhancement of inclusive food security initiatives in your country and how have you empowered and supported women with disabilities to break down barriers and ensure they are not left behind in decision-making and implementation?
- The existence of disability movement structures right from global, regional, national and grassroot levels to provides an insight into the potential mechanisms that can be adopted, both short term and long term to build the necessary skills, capacities and expertise for the sector to be at the fore front of pushing for improved land rights relations and guarantees of food security.
- Government initiatives, particularly in collaboration with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) under the We are Able! programme has extended services like free land registration for all OPD members including land conflict resolutions, donation of free land to OPDs meant for construction of offices at the district levels as well as other land utilizations for sustainable development of OPDs beyond the We are Able! project.
- Another key factor is the contribution to general awareness and sensitization of the public by OPDs, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and public authorities in shaping the ground and tapping on to the solutions for various barriers, with attitudinal barriers being the most prominent, followed by communication and physical barriers.
- Furthermore, leadership denominations in the District Unions of Persons with Disabilities as a starting point has given them a platform to engage key stakeholders and their members on food security.
- Gender sensitization at community-based level especially household where male domination was observed.
- Participation in various We Are Able programme income-generating activities (IGAs) such as ISave, borrowing for economic boasting since most women with disabilities are bread winners in their homes.
The theme for this year’s Women’s Day is “Accelerate Action”. How do you think women with disabilities are accessing their right to food security and address any systemic barriers that hinder their participation?
- First and most importantly, formation of women’s allies and coordinated efforts in advocating for the favorable legal framework comprising of policies formulation and amendments.
- Capacity enhancement and economic empowerment of women with disabilities in collection of systematic evidence to inform policy research, amendments among others.
- Additionally, advocating for the leadership of women with disabilities within the mainstream land rights and food security coalitions, platforms for effective participation and meaningful engagement on the issues affecting them is essential.
What message do you have for policymakers and communities to ensure that women with disabilities are given equal opportunities in food security and governance?
The insufficient evidence-based documentation of the existing challenges faced by persons with disabilities in land access and food security to inform high-level advocacy has been singled out. What is in existence is still covered under the general vulnerable groups discourse where persons with disabilities are addressed, as part of the many, despite the diversity of disabilities and the unique way in which they are affected by this deprivation. This alone hinders relevant legal framework and policy dialogues around long-term sustainable advocacy solutions to enable women with disabilities access and utilize land for food security. When such disparities are addressed, we will witness a great stride in improved access to food security and land rights initiatives.