CSW67 NGO Forum - In-person parallel event: Feminist Accessibility Protocol

Women Enabled International (WEI), the Inclusive Generation Equality Collective, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Disability Rights Funds and CREA would like to invite you to the parallel event on 'Feminist Accessibility Protocol – Committing to disability-accessible and inclusive technology and innovation for gender equality and human rights'.

 

The 67th Session of the CSW has identified ‘Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls’ as its priority theme. The theme aims to review the gendered effects of innovation and technology while acknowledging that there is still a sizable digital gender gap. This gap is further widened when assessed through a disability lens.

The CRPD has noted that there are significant gaps, particularly in terms of the lack of accessibility within technologies, as they are embodied in both physical and virtual environments and contexts. For those affected, the majority of whom reside in the global South, this has important consequences on the exercise of their human rights. The COVID-19 pandemic brought this glaring inequality to light on an international platform. In a global study conducted by WEI in 2021 on the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls with disability, it was found that women, girls and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities were unable to meet their basic needs due to a lack of accessible information and barriers to accessing technology during the pandemic.

 

To ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to digital rights through innovation and technological change, it is pertinent that the voices of feminists with disabilities be heard and that they have a seat at the table where discussions and decisions on digital gender equality take place. It is also fundamental that the voices and participation not be tokenistic. 

 

The side-event seeks to introduce the groundbreaking set of commitments introduced in the Feminist Accessibility Protocol and highlight the good practices utilizing technology and innovating to ensure an accessible, inclusive, valuable and safe space for feminists with disabilities.

 

See the official invitation here.

Please register here.