At WWDA, we work to protect and promote the human rights of women and gender diverse people with disabilities.
Everyone has human rights. These are the rights that every person has simply because they are a person, to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.
Human rights are protected by international laws. These are the rules that different countries agree on together. Many different countries, including Australia, have agreed to laws around the rights of people with disabilities to make sure everyone in society is respected and protected.
For example, people with disabilities have the right to:
- be free from violence and abuse;
- be protected by the law;
- have the same chances at work and in school as everyone else;
- be a part of the community; and
- make their own decisions.
These laws also talk about how important it is for women and gender diverse people with disabilities to build their confidence, knowledge and skills for participation in leadership. Countries should take extra steps to support women and gender diverse people with disabilities to:
- be empowered;
- understand their rights; and
- make their own decisions.
All people with disabilities have a right to:
- be part of their community;
- share their ideas and experiences; and
- make decisions about the things that are important to them.
Leadership, self-advocacy and rights
The voices and leadership of women and gender diverse people with disabilities are essential for an inclusive and equitable society. Training and supports to learn about leadership can assist people in developing the confidence and understanding to speak out and stand up for the things they care about. Peer groups and self-advocacy groups can support people to continue to build their skills to speak up about their rights and share their voices and take action.
Leadership training can also support people to gain skills and confidence about making their own decisions.
The decisions and choices that we make let us express what we think, what we want, and what matters to us. The outcomes of our choices and decisions can be good and bad, and it is these outcomes that help us to learn and gain experience, confidence, and knowledge. WWDA believes that all women and gender diverse people with disabilities have the right to make their own decisions and choices, and to receive support for decision-making if they need it. These choices can include small choices about what to eat and what to wear, to more important life choices, like where to live or whether to have a family.
Everyone, regardless of disability, has a right to make important decisions and to get the help and support they need to do that. This is how it should always be! Some women and gender diverse people with disabilities might need support to fully understand the different outcomes of possible decisions and what those decisions mean, in order to make a decision that works best for them.
Being able to make our own decisions also allows us to be a part of our communities in the same way that everyone else is. Everyone has a right to be a part of the community. This can look like:
- being involved in a community event or social club;
- having a job;
- voting;
- having a say about important topics;
- going to school, work or to the doctor; and
- being involved in the decisions that impact our lives.
You can read more about human rights in WWDA’s Human Rights Toolkit. You can also access the Easy Read version of our human rights information by clicking here.
