This section highlights the major United Nations agencies and inter-agency frameworks that actively advance the rights, protection, and meaningful inclusion of women, children, and persons with disabilities. These agencies shape global norms, provide technical guidance, influence policy, support governments, and generate evidence that strengthens disability-inclusive development, humanitarian response, and human rights implementation.
Why It Matters for Women with Disabilities:
The work of these UN entities is crucial for addressing gender-based discrimination, intersecting barriers, and gaps in representation. Their programs emphasize leadership, safety, education, health, participation in public life, and access to justice for women and girls with disabilities.
UN Women – Gender & Disability Inclusion
UN Women integrates disability rights within its gender equality mandate by:
- Supporting leadership and advocacy of women with disabilities
- Addressing gender-based violence and accessibility barriers
- Developing inclusive policies and protection mechanisms
- Promoting disability-inclusive economic empowerment
This sub-link provides insights into how UN Women ensures disability is not left behind in global gender equality efforts.
UNFPA – SRHR & Inclusive Health
UNFPA focuses on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls with disabilities by:
- Strengthening access to accessible SRHR services
- Providing guidance for inclusive maternal health
- Addressing harmful stereotypes and discrimination
- Supporting data collection that includes disability indicators
This content shows UNFPA’s role in ensuring no woman or girl with disabilities is excluded from essential health services.
UNESCO – Inclusive Education
UNESCO leads global efforts on inclusive, equitable, and accessible education systems, highlighting:
- Girls with disabilities’ access to quality education
- Capacity-building for disability-inclusive teaching
- Removing physical, digital, and social learning barriers
- Promoting accessibility in digital learning tools and school environments
This link outlines UNESCO’s contribution to education rights.
UNICEF – DIPAS 2022–2030
UNICEF’s Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) is a core framework guiding the organization’s work from 2022 to 2030. It prioritizes:
- Child protection systems inclusive of children with disabilities
- Access to health, education, and social protection
- Inclusive humanitarian response
- Strengthening family and community-based care
This sub-link explains how UNICEF ensures inclusion across all areas of child rights.
WHO – Inclusive Health Standard
WHO plays a central role in setting global accessible, inclusive, and equitable health standards, including:
- Disability-inclusive primary healthcare guidelines
- Assistive technology and rehabilitation frameworks
- Mental health support systems
- Norms for non-discrimination in health services
This section details WHO’s technical leadership on health inclusion.
OHCHR – CRPD Monitoring
OHCHR supports the human rights of persons with disabilities through:
- Monitoring CRPD implementation
- Supporting the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Documenting discrimination, violence, and rights violations
- Strengthening national human rights mechanisms and reporting
This focuses on OHCHR’s role in global accountability and rights protection.
UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS
UNDIS (2019) ensures disability inclusion across the entire UN system by:
- Establishing benchmarks for accessibility, participation, and non-discrimination
- Requiring each agency to monitor and report on progress
- Strengthening inclusive programming, staffing, and leadership
- Guiding humanitarian and development interventions
This helps audiences understand how the UN aligns all agencies to disability rights.
IASC Guidelines on Disability Inclusion in Humanitarian Action (2019)
These guidelines ensure that humanitarian responses include and protect persons with disabilities by providing standards for:
- Inclusive coordination and leadership
- Accessible communication and infrastructure
- Protection from violence and exploitation
- Participation of persons with disabilities in response planning
- Inclusive health, shelter, WASH, education, and protection services
An essential resource for humanitarian actors worldwide.
External Link
- UN Women: https://www.unwomen.org
- UNICEF DIPAS (via UNICEF): https://www.unicef.org
- WHO Disability: https://www.who.int
- OHCHR: https://www.ohchr.org
- UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS): https://www.un.org/en/content/disabilitystrategy
- IASC Guidelines: https://interagencystandingcommittee.org