Gender
Women and girls with disabilities face intersecting forms of discrimination, on account of their both gender and disability status. In combination, this often limits access to basic rights and opportunities for women and girls with disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires States to ensure equality between men and women with disabilities, and to also address the specific needs and rights that exist for women with disabilities (Article 6). This includes protection from violence and abuse (Article 16) and access to healthcare (Article 25). To ensure their effective inclusion in development programs, a combination of targeted and mainstreaming strategies is needed to bridge the gap and address the disparities caused by the intersection of disability and gender.
The resources below include evidence and tools for taking an intersectional approach to disability and gender.
Pacific Disability Forum (2025) Mapping the Inclusion of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Gender Programs and Policies in the Pacific: Findings report
This report examines the extent to which mainstream gender programs and stakeholders are including diverse women and girls with disabilities within their gender programs, frameworks, policies and practices.
CBM Global IAG (2025) Disability in GEDSI Analysis: Quick reference guide
This quick reference guide is for Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) advisors and development practitioners who are undertaking GEDSI analysis and looking to ensure that disability equity and rights are adequately addressed.
Humanity & Inclusion (2018) Gender and disability intersectionality in practice: Women and girls with disabilities addressing discrimination and violence in Africa
This report documents nine examples of good practices across six African countries relating to the elimination and response to violence, abuse and exploitation of women and girls with disabilities.
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2016) General Comment No 3 – Article 6: Women and girls with disabilities
Article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a response to the lack of recognition of the rights of women and girls with disabilities.
CBM Australia (2018) Leave No One Behind: Gender equality, disability inclusion and leadership for sustainable development
This report highlights the discrimination that exists at the intersection of gender, disability and poverty and how this affects women and girls with disabilities in accessing employment, education, and health care.
CBM (2019) CBM Disability and Gender Analysis Toolkit
The purpose of this toolkit is to help CBM staff to ‘walk the talk’ on disability and gender equality.
Plan International (2017) Let Me Decide and Thrive: Global Discrimination and Exclusion of Women and Girls with Disabilities
This report calls for all children with disabilities to be provided comprehensive sexuality education so they can make conscious choices about relationships and sexuality.
World Bank (2023) Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations
The toolkit lists the commitments of the World Bank Group to women with disabilities as well as examples of law and policy reform, key barriers and solutions across several World Bank sectors, and a checklist for World Bank project teams.
UN Women (2023) Gender- and disability-inclusive budgeting: Issues and policy options
This policy brief from UN Women identifies emerging practices on gender and disability-inclusive budgeting.
CBM Australia (2023) Gender Equality and Disability Equity
This paper summarises key contexts related to women with disabilities.
