Information & Resource Center On Disability

An epoch making National Training of Women with Disabilities on Peer-Counseling, held on March 5-6, 2011 at Red Hamalyan Hotel Muree. Muree is situated around 8000 feet from the sea level in mountain range of Himalaya, 50 kilometers Northeast of Pakistani capital Islamabad.

The groundbreaking training has been organized by Capital Independent Living Center (CILC) with the support of Asia Pacific Network of Independent Living (APNIL), in collaboration with National Forum of Women with Disabilities Pakistan (NFWWD) and Pakistan Disabled Peoples Organization (PDPO). The training was attended by 40 young women with disabilities from Karachi, Nawabshah, Lahore, Multan, Peshawer, Muzafergarh, Faisalabad, Bagh, Muzafarabad, Abbotabad and Islamabad. International recognized resource persons from South Asia Disability Forum, Disabled Peoples International Asia Pacific, Milestone Society and Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP).

Women with disabilities are disadvantaged in several key areas when compared with other women, men with disabilities, and the society as a whole. These women face a triple handicap and discrimination due to their disability, gender and developing world status. Keeping in the view that the range of abilities of persons within any disabilities group is enormous, we have a large number of women with disabilities in Pakistan who are taking part in the activities of daily life with courage. The issue of disability is gaining more and more importance all over the world as well as in Pakistan due the disability movement for a “rights based society” since almost two decades.

Government have framed various policies for PWDs with Disabled Persons Organizations, INGOs, NGOs and other disability stockholders which include reservation of jobs, concession facilities in travelling, special training institutions etc. The Government of Pakistan has made efforts to support the rights of Persons with Disabilities in the view of Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) and National Policy on disability and now Pakistan has signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, despite these efforts, the sad fact is that most people with disabilities especially women with disabilities and their families remain completely un-served by government, NGOs and even in Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) persons with disabilities they often feel difficulty to live with dignity in their respective communities.

Through peer-counseling, peer-counselors can support them to deal with such anxiety by sharing their own experiences and give them confidence that every person has capacity to live independently. Since peer-counselors are PWDs who have similar experiences and they are facing same challenges, it put real significance. It provides a role model, who can serve as a link between the person seeking help and the service provider could also draw on a wide range of unique experiences which cannot be observed by anyone else. Disability movement in Pakistan is accelerating and rights of Persons with Disabilities are getting recognition. A good number of Persons with Disabilities have attended trainings from Japan and Thailand, got employment in mainstream organizations, receiving higher education and playing leading role in the society. Establishment of Independent Living Centers in Pakistan is a landmark which is disseminating information relating to Independent Living.

A similar training was conducted with Akiyama San from Human Care Association - Japan for women with disabilities, started first Peer-Support Group of WWDs in Pakistan. A unique characteristic of this training is that mentor of Independent Living Concepts in Pakistan will be Resource Persons. They are expected to proactively involve in lectures and workshops, and their self-reflection and their own experiences are considered to be valuable factors of PC training. This year training achieved following land marks:

The News

Filed under: News from Pakistan on March 6th, 2011