The Global Disability Fund is proud to host a high‑level side event during the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), titled “Achieving Access to Justice for All: Women with Disabilities Leading Inclusive and Equitable GBV Prevention and Protection Policy, Law, and Systems Reforms.” The virtual event will take place on 17 March 2026, from 10:00 to 11:15 AM, and will spotlight global efforts to advance justice, protection, and gender equality for women and girls with disabilities.
🗓️ Date: March 17, 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00-11:15 AM EST/14:00-15:15 GMT
💻 Virtual Event (Register Here): Webinar Registration – Zoom
Background:
Women and girls with disabilities face some of the most profound and intersecting barriers to accessing justice globally, particularly in situations of gender-based violence (GBV). These barriers include:
- Discriminatory laws and practices,
- Denial of legal capacity,
- Inaccessible police stations and courts,
- Lack of accessible information and communication,
- Limited availability of disability-inclusive GBV prevention and protection services,
- Pervasive gender and disability stigma that undermines credibility, reporting, and redress.
Purpose and Objectives of the Session
This side event will highlight how GDF‑supported, OPD‑led initiatives improve access to justice for women and girls with disabilities and strengthen inclusive, survivor‑centred GBV responses aligned with CSW70 priorities.
The session will focus on:
- Showcasing GDF-supported national programmes and systems reforms
Examples of laws, policies, and service improvements that advance disability‑inclusive GBV prevention, protection, and justice. - Elevating women with disabilities as leaders of transformative change
How OPD-led initiatives place women with disabilities at the center of policy and systems reform. - Sharing evidence and advance actionable recommendations aligned with CSW70 outcomes
Present evidence, lessons learned, and data generated through GDF-supported programmes to scale disability-inclusive, gender-transformative reforms across justice, health, and social protection systems.
Expected Outcomes
By showcasing evidence and lessons from Global Disability Fund (GDF)–supported, OPD-led programmes, the side event is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
- Increase visibility of disability‑inclusive GBV and justice reforms
Strengthen understanding of how GDF initiatives advance survivor‑centred, disability‑inclusive approaches across diverse contexts. - Strengthen recognition of women with disabilities as leaders
Reinforce the vital role of their expertise and lived experience in shaping effective legal, policy, and institutional reforms. - Provide actionable, evidence‑based recommendations
Offer clear guidance to scale disability‑inclusive, gender‑transformative reforms across justice, health, and social protection systems. - Reinforce political commitment and partnerships
Bolster momentum—supported by Finland’s leadership—for sustained investment in OPD‑led efforts to prevent GBV and strengthen access to justice.
Register here:
https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l3nRL5ixTbmoIEVEA60Nqg