Strengthening Participation and Leadership of Women with Disabilities in Mexico
An UNDEF project in Mexico is strengthening the political participation and leadership of women with disabilities in the development of a national disability strategy. Implemented by Documenta - Análisis y Acción para la Justicia Social, A.C (Documenta), the project is building the advocacy capacity of women with disabilities and their organizations and promoting dialogue between them and public institutions. By its second milestone, it established a learning community for women with disabilities, including a digital platform with accessible tools. The project also ensured their participation in international advocacy spaces, held workshops, and hosted meetings to create strategic alliances.
Eleni, Cecilia, and Mirza are young LGBT+ and disability rights activists living in Jalisco, Durango, and Chiapas, respectively. In 2022, they participated in Documenta’s “Management of Social Projects” workshop. They left not only with the tools to advance their own advocacy goals but also as valuable members of the Learning Community. On October 25th and 26th, they participated in the “International Meeting of Women with Disabilities: Participation and Advocacy for Social Change” in Mexico City, allowing them to meet other deaf women, expand their networks, participate in new spaces, and learn about the work of other organizations. After the meeting, Eleni spoke of the future where the experiences and opinions of women with disabilities are respected:
“I think that once we finish this fight and we have been able to raise awareness and when they understand the vision that we want to show them, I think that when there is legislation, I will no longer have to be asking or motivating everyone, I will no longer have to be convincing, I think that once we achieve it, we will have to continue looking for alliances and incorporating in continuing to inform and we will be able to do it with more security.”
