EU Funds Project to Empower Women with Disabilities

“The EU takes immense pride in championing inclusion as the cornerstone of our development cooperation.

Next year, Pakistan will integrate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) into its GSP+ framework that aligns perfectly with our shared vision of leaving no one behind.

By the end of the third year, we aspire to see tangible progress: the elimination of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) and the economic empowerment of women with disabilities,” he added.

Over the next three years, the Beyond Barriers project will enhance the capacity of women-led organizations to support women, particularly those with disabilities, in combatting GBVH and in accessing decent and inclusive work opportunities.

The project will partner with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to promote disability-inclusive training and education.

Director Pakistan and Middle East, Sightsavers, Ms Munazza Gillani, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating, “Today’s commitment marks a significant milestone in our collective journey to break down barriers that hold back women, especially women with disabilities, from leading economically empowered and dignified lives.”

The Beyond Barriers project will also advocate for improved implementation of national policies such as the SME Policy (2021), the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2022), and the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

Through participatory research and the Disability-inclusive Approach to Social Accountability (Dasa), civil society organizations will generate evidence to influence policymaking, strengthen advocacy campaigns, and improve service delivery.