Nari Unnayan Shakti has urged for an increased budget allocation to support the development and protection of women and children with disabilities. The call was made during a workshop held on Thursday, at the Nari Unnayan Shakti office in Dhaka’s Banasree.
The workshop was jointly organized by Nari Unnayan Shakti, Young Women for Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC), and the Forum for Culture and Human Development (FCHD). The event saw participation from women and children with disabilities, representatives of various NGOs, and members of civil society.
Afroza Parven, executive director of Nari Unnayan Shakti, delivered the keynote address. The panel discussion included contributions from Nusrat Sultana Afroze, president of YWDRC, and Shahida Wahab, president of FCHD.
During the session, participants such as Suki, a woman with a disability, and Habib, a man with a disability, voiced concerns over the inadequacy of current allowances.
They emphasized that the existing support is insufficient to meet even two days' expenses in the current economic climate.
As a result of the workshop, a 10-point demand was prepared to address the development, protection, and empowerment of women and children with disabilities.
This demand list was submitted to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on the same day.
10-point urgent demands
- Increased budget allocation and separate code
Introduce a separate budget code at national and local levels for women and children with disabilities, increase allocations, and ensure transparency in initiatives related to development, human rights, and violence prevention. - Enforcement of laws and special tribunals
Establish special tribunals to strictly enforce the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and the Disability Rights Protection Act, ensuring timely justice. - Protection and rehabilitation centers
Set up service centers in every district for protection, counseling, and rehabilitation services. - Disability-friendly infrastructure and transport
Mandate ramps, lifts, accessible toilets, and visual signage in all public and private institutions, courts, educational institutions, and public transport. - Economic empowerment and employment opportunities
Provide skill development training, micro-credit, grant-based support, and merit-based employment opportunities. - Inclusive and quality education
Ensure inclusive education from primary to higher levels, providing Braille and sign language materials along with special educators. - Sexual and reproductive health services
Establish sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls and women with disabilities at every health center, along with support cells for preventing sexual violence. - Project implementation via local NGOs
Allocate a portion of the budget to experienced local NGOs and organizations run by persons with disabilities. - Data-driven planning
Formulate plans based on data related to health, education, employment, and violence. - Community-based awareness campaigns
Conduct awareness campaigns through plays, discussion forums, and community programs at ward and union levels in collaboration with NGOs.
Afroza Parven concluded by saying: "To improve the quality of life for women and children with disabilities, we must work collectively on four pillars—budget, law, infrastructure, and awareness. We hope the government will take these demands seriously and act promptly."
