Spinal Injuries Association of Malawi has equipped women with disabilities from Dedza, Kasungu and Lilongwe with advocacy skills to engage their district councils to include them in social protection programmes.
During a social protection advocacy workshop in Lilongwe on Monday, the organisation’s co-founder and general secretary Scader Louis said women with disabilities were still being sidelined from social cash transfers, public works and savings groups.
“The women have designed advocacy messages to engage district councils to increase inclusion of persons with disabilities in such programmes and ensure their representation in decision-making processes,” she said.
Dedza Disability Forum chairperson Catherine Bunya said the training was timely, adding that they acquired advocacy skills to amplify their voice at district level.
“We are the most underrepresented in district council structures. But, through this workshop, we have gained advocacy skills to engage authorities to include us in social protection services,” he said.
Disabled Women in Africa project officer Mwayiwathu Kusakala said they supported the training following persistent discrimination that women and girls with disabilities face.
“We have lobbied for inclusion for long but we have not registered much progress. Therefore, the training was crucial as it empowered the women with skills to advocate for their rights,” she said.
The organisation conducted the training with funding from the Disabled Women in Africa under the Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa project.
