Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi's Opening Remarks for the "Untold Stories of Women with Disabilities in the Earthquake Zone" Panel in Gaziantep

Thank you for joining us today from several cities in the earthquake-hit region of Türkiye.

Distinguished participants,

Today is a very important day for me. This is my 4th day as the UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye. And this is my first official event in the country.

I am honored to take part in this event because it is an important contribution to the United Nations’ efforts to “leave no one behind”. A pledge by member states to fulfill until 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Gender equality is also a priority for the UN.  Without gender equality, it is not possible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Today’s event focuses on both issues, especially in a region devasted by twin earthquakes.

The event has been jointly organized by United Nations agencies as part of the 16 days of activism global campaign. Annually, this campaign starts on the 25th of November, on the International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Violence against Women, and comes to an end on the 10th of December, Human Rights Day.

Today, we also take the chance to commemorate another important annual observance: International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated annually on the 3rd of December.

Marking these international days and campaigns are not just proclamations. They are a call to action to each one of us.

The voices of women and of persons with disabilities have often gone unheard. But today, in line with the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’, we will have the privilege of hearing first-hand accounts of what it means to be a woman with disability or a support person for family members with disabilities in the aftermath of the earthquakes. Our panel discussion today will benefit from the expertise of women with disabilities and women who have worked for and with persons with disabilities. It is a moment for us to reflect on how we can mitigate the risk of violence against women and to respond to cases affecting women and girls with disabilities and their families. For this, I am thankful to our distinguished panellists for their contribution to this important event.

We have titled this event “Untold stories of women with disabilities in the earthquake zone”.

Our intention is that these stories will be told and will be heard not only today but at every possible occasion as the region recovers from the earthquakes. The voices and perspectives of women and girls with disabilities need to be considered in decisions, policies and services that are affecting their lives – this is the only way to have a truly equitable and sustainable recovery.

Persons with disabilities represent 16 percent of the world population. It is the largest minority worldwide. Moreover, the prevalence of disability is higher among women, with about one in every five women is estimated to have a disability. Many of them face unique forms of intersecting discrimination based on their gender and disability status.

In the province of Gaziantep alone, 115,000 persons have a disability, including 62,000 women and girls. In the four provinces that were most affected by the earthquakes, namely Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Adıyaman, there are nearly 300,00 persons with disabilities, of which 55% are women and girls.

Women are also the primary caregivers for persons with disabilities in their families and households. Globally, one in four households has a member with a disability.  The uneven burden that falls on women to care for family members in general, and for those with disabilities in particular, needs to be acknowledged. It is by itself a form of gender inequality, limiting opportunities for women unpaid caregivers to engage fully and equally in paid jobs and in social life, since they lack the support needed from other family members, from public institutions, and from employers.

When gender and disability interact, we end up with compounded and multiple forms of discrimination, that women and girls with disabilities face. They are at least two to three times more likely than women without disabilities to experience violence, including by family, intimate partners, caregivers, and institutional facilities. They are more likely to be targeted by perpetrators because of social exclusion, limited mobility, lack of support structures, communication barriers, and negative social perceptions and cultural norms around disability. Their relatively limited access to education and to employment due to existing barriers lead to heightened exposure to violence. Women with disabilities are also underrepresented in decision making, including within organizations of persons with disabilities.

Disasters and crises exacerbate existing inequalities and put those who are more vulnerable at risk of experiencing different forms of violence. The earthquakes that hit Türkiye were no exception.

Women and girls with disabilities in the earthquake zone face increased vulnerability to physical violence due to limited mobility and accessibility challenges. The trauma of the disaster, coupled with societal stigma, isolation, and discrimination, can also contribute to increased psychological violence. Limited access to resources and job opportunities in the aftermath of the earthquakes can exacerbate financial dependence, thus making women and girls with disabilities more susceptible to exploitation and economic abuse.

Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of the realities faced by women and girls with disabilities, and actions by all of us to support them to be able to fully exercise their rights. All of you that are here with us today have an important role to play – be it as decision-makers in government at central or local level, as service providers, as representatives of the private sector, civil society, or international organizations. The UN country team will continue working closely with you in our shared commitment to enhancing the roles of women and girls with disabilities across all aspects of development.

In conclusion, let me reiterate once more the deep commitment of the UN system in Türkiye to gender equality and to disability inclusion. These are both intersectional and crosscutting issues - and key to an equitable world. We are committed to supporting efforts to ensure that women with disabilities are at every decision-making table, in line with the international conventions Türkiye is a party to, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It is our that gender equality and disability inclusion will be progressively realized in Türkiye as the country continues to address the humanitarian consequences of the earthquakes, builds back better, and better prepares for future disasters.

Let me end by thanking you and all the institutions and organizations that you represent for your invaluable support and solidarity with people affected by the earthquakes. Let us all at the end of today’s event take to heart and live out this year’s slogan of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign – “No Excuse” – “Bahanesi Yok”. We say loud and clear - No Excuse to any form of gender-based violence, committed against any woman or girls, including those with disabilities.

I wish us all an enriching discussion.

Thank you.