8 March 2022

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias.

Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field.

International Women’s Day is one of the most important days of the year to celebrate women’s achievements. In the spirit of this, we are celebrating the amazing contribution Shrutilata Singh, our very own Specialist Network Support Lead from Sense International India, made to this year’s Global Disability Summit.

“As a woman we are already disadvantaged and when we have a disability, such as deafblindness, which can cut individuals off from the world, the issues and challenges multiply”

Shrutilata Singh

Shruti, who has deafblindness herself, spoke on a ‘Transition to Employment’ panel at the Youth Global Disability Summit, where she was joined by Asha Patwal, a young person with deafblindness who has been supported by Sense International India.

Young people with disabilities are one of the most excluded groups with little representation in decision-making. This year the GDS dedicated a whole day to youth with disabilities. The aim of the Youth Summit was to amplify the concerns and ideas of young people with disabilities worldwide.

Shruti also spoke at the GDS Gender session where she highlighted how women with deafblindness face dual discrimination, as women and as people with disabilities.
In many countries women with deafblindness are being excluded because of inaccessible information and lack of opportunities. Women and girls with disabilities need to be at the core of inclusive development.

Last year at the UN Data Forum, Shruti raised the issue of ensuring women with deafblindness are counted in censuses. She raised this again at the GDS, underlining that it is imperative that women and girls with disabilities are identified and acknowledged in national policy.

International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate the achievements of women, but it also mark’s a call to action for gender equality. Across Sense International, we are committed to tackling gender inequalities which are exacerbated for women with deafblindness.