Mainstreaming inclusive gender equality perspective in policymaking

In this one-minute video pitch, I call for action for all stakeholders—the government and private sector alike—to start incorporating inclusive gender equality principles when making policies, given the fact that women with disabilities are still highly unemployed compared to the general female population. This is because they are regarded as incapable by employers and there is a lack of accessible facilities at work places.

Inclusive gender equality means that policy making process should consider voices from women with disabilities instead of treating them as merely objects of charity. Albeit the government of Indonesia already ratified the United Nations Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in October 2011 and passed the Disability Law no.8 of 2016, women with disabilities are ‘leaving behind’ in many policies. For example, the digital banking that is essential for financial inclusion still ignores the needs of people with visual and hearing impairment by not providing accessible apps. This situation will cause them not being able to access G2P social assistance grant and microcredit, which are important to improve their welfare. As a matter of fact, in 2017 Indonesia ranked 116 out of 190 countries for the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index by UNDP. This means that enhancing the enabling environment to support inclusive gender equality principles should be prioritized to achieve the ambitious mission of zero poverty and shared prosperity by 2030. We can begin with unified database on women with disability according to the Washington Tools Group standard.

As Amartya Sen said : “poverty is not just a lack of money; it is not having the capability to realize one’s full potential as a human being”. Let us support women with disabilities to realize their full potential as human beings in this era of Industrial Revolution 4.0.