Stay Safe: preventing and responding to sexual violence against women with disabilities

ended

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the global prevalence and risk of violence against adults with disabilities published in the Lancet two years ago found that overall adults with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to be victims of violence than those without a disability; while adults with mental disabilities are at nearly four times the risk of experiencing violence(Hughes, Bellis, Jones, Wood, Bateset al 2012). Therefore, women with mental disabilities have the highest risk to be victim of GBV. Women with disabilities are less likely to disclose violence or seek help. This is due to women being unaware they are being abused or recognizing ill treatment –thinking it is normal; a cognitive inability to comprehend what is happening; dependence on partner and/or fear of losing partner or children; fear of institutionalization, lack of screening for violence, not being aware of her rights and laws to protect her, and lack of access to information on prevention or protection. If they do seek help, they are met with physical, resource and attitudinal barriers, for example because social workers may not understand the issues facing women with disabilities, and disability sector workers may not be educated about the high risk of violence. Proposal: the project aims at: 1. Develop and test a training model based on creative drama technique targeting women with mental disabilities (110) and professionals (220) to recognize, react and report to sexual harassment episodes (both online and offline) 2. Raise awareness among professionals (psychologists, social workers, medical staff, carers, etc.), working in the disability field of the risk of sexual harassment to which mentally disabled women are exposed and to provide them with instruments to replicate the training programme.