Read the full blog here:
https://feminisminindia.com/2024/09/10/breaking-invisible-barriers-the-intersection-of-disability-and-gender-based-violence/
PEC Founder Prita Jha discusses the challenges of disability in child sexual abuse cases
The article highlights how gender-based violence (GBV) against people with disabilities and neurodivergence in India is deeply underreported and often ignored by mainstream discourse—even as para-athletes are celebrated for sporting achievements. It shows that disabled individuals face a double layer of marginalisation: gender and disability intersect to make them especially vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse.
Key points include:
- Under-visibility and neglect: Violence against disabled and neurodivergent people rarely receives media attention. Their experiences are often overlooked because society is designed around able-bodied, neurotypical norms.
- Communication challenges: Survivors with intellectual or communication disabilities may struggle to report abuse or have their experiences taken seriously, increasing the risk of misreporting and dismissal.
- Systemic barriers: Legal and support systems often lack the training, resources, and sensitivity needed to support survivors with special needs. For example, proper disability-aware expert assistance in legal proceedings can be delayed or unavailable.
- Trauma and care gaps: The psychological impact of GBV is compounded for people with disabilities and neurodivergent folks, whose sensory and emotional responses can intensify traumatic effects.
- Need for inclusive change: Experts and activists quoted in the piece stress the urgent need for intersectional, trauma-informed support systems and policy implementation that recognise the lived realities of people with disabilities.