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View all search resultsConnecting the dots: Reproductive rights & disability
Disability is still largely a taboo subject – and if combined with sexual and reproductive health and rights, it becomes a hard issue to digest for many.
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any people with disabilities struggle with their identity and with fitting into society, often feeling isolated and lacking access to many things – from disability-friendly buildings to supportive policies.
Talking about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) alone is hard for some, let alone for persons with disabilities (PDWs).
“To talk about SRHR is a challenge even for a normal person and it becomes even more challenging for a person with a disability. But nothing is a challenge if you use the right language,” said Tanzila Khan, founder of Creative Alley in Pakistan.
Confined to her wheelchair since birth, Khan works to bridge the gap between disabilities and SRHR through her organization, which promotes young talent through trainings, projects and events.
Khan said she was aware that, despite coming from an orthodox society that is not supportive toward women, her power was her public speaking.
“I could always apply my advocacy skills, and now my entire family is on board. So my first leadership project was my own family and my society around me,” said Khan, who says her privileged background is what gave her access to education.
Khan was a plenary speaker at the 10th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR10), held online as part of a series organized by the conference’s steering committee, the UNFPA and Citizen News Service (CNS).
