In Ethiopia's predominantly patriarchal society, the intersection of gender and disability exposes women and girls with disabilities to multiple forms of discrimination. They face unequal access to resources and services, including education, justice, and healthcare. As a result, women with disabilities struggle to navigate and climb the economic ladder, often finding it challenging to secure employment opportunities.
It's common to see women with disabilities stay at their homes, burdened with unbalanced and unpaid care work, or engaged in informal sector such as petty trades.
Prior to joining the Abilis family at the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association (EWDNA), I had challenging work environments in private organizations. As a woman with a disability employed in private limited companies, I faced unfair expectations. I was often expected to work longer hours than my colleagues without disability, to prove my capacity and worth. This inequality in treatment shows the discriminatory attitudes prevalent in some workplaces towards employees with disabilities.
Working at Abilis is great because it provides capacity-building trainings, monthly sessions where we discuss specific topics with the global Abilis family, and opportunities to work with local grassroots level OPDs.
Abilis offers equal opportunities to all employees and encourages everyone to actively contribute to the organization’s work. In this supportive environment, my contributions are valued and appreciated. This has empowered me, allowing me to use my full potential, gain knowledge, and clearly express my needs.
Working as Abilis Country Coordinator led to my selection as a delegate for Mobility International USA, enabling me to participate in the 10th International Women's Institute for Leadership and Disability (WILD) program in Oregon, USA. Additionally, it connected me to a virtual group called Women Major Groups, where I engaged in influencing global policies during United Nations General Assembly sessions. I also represented women with disabilities in Ethiopia at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), alongside meeting and collaborating with various Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).
These experiences have increased my knowledge, enabling me to assist other OPDs in implementing gender and disability-inclusive projects. Moreover, I've gained insights into effective collaboration strategies with our surrounding communities to ensure the sustainability of our projects.
Martha Belayneh
Country Coordinator Ethiopia
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