On Tuesday 11 May, 2021, 25 women and girls with disabilities, including parents and carers, attended a focus group meeting in Zvishavane in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. The consultation provided local women and girls with the opportunity to share their experiences living with disabilities, accessing services and supports, as well as how their lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The consultations formed part of the research project, "Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Zimbabwe" which is being jointly implemented by United Nations (UN) agencies - UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP - and other technical partners. The research contributes towards the broader UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) project in Zimbabwe which aims to create a framework that will assist in the implementation of the UN's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which was adopted by Zimbabwe in 2013.
The focus group was facilitated by Mr Marange, head of the Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ) and Mr Jowa a consultant from Primson Management Services. The meeting was hosted by The BRAVE Foundation, who also assisted in reaching and mobilising participants. A report is being prepared by FODPZ and Primson Management Services, based on their community consultations, which will soon be submitted to UNESCO.
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