A New Chapter: Building Power with Women with Disabilities in Access to Justice

By Esther Akua Gamfi

The launch of the Rights of Women and Disabilities (RWD)  Thematic Area, is a step forward in the fight for equality and inclusion. This is more than just a new project. It is a powerful commitment to stand with women with disabilities across Africa and to open new doors to justice where they have long been closed.

Even though there has been significant progress around the world in adopting laws and progressive calls for disability inclusion, women with disabilities continue to face some of the most significant barriers to justice. They are often invisible in legal systems, excluded from conversations that shape their lives, and left without meaningful protections. Too many are denied the chance to speak for themselves in court, access vital information in ways they can understand, or receive protection when they face violence. Through the RWD Thematic Area, we are taking bold action to change this reality. We aim to break down the systemic barriers that keep women and girls with disabilities at the margins and use the power of strategic litigation to push African states to fully implement important human rights laws like the African Disability Protocol (ADP) and the Maputo Protocol. The African Disability Protocol and the Maputo Protocol both recognise that women with disabilities face unique and overlapping forms of discrimination. These frameworks don’t just call for protection, they demand action. The thematic area focuses on making those protections a reality. Through litigation and advocacy, we are working to ensure that justice systems across Africa become more inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of women and girls with disabilities.

The thematic area evolved from a narrow yet important goal of building a feminist litigation network that is diverse and inclusive of the populations that we serve. We believe that representation matters and that clients deserve to see themselves in the legal representatives who fight for their rights. The limited inclusion has evolved into an emerging thematic area. The initial phase has consisted of consultations and research that will enable our intervention to be evidence-based and respond to the needs identified by women with disabilities as priorities.

Ultimately, our strategy prioritises work in four areas under this theme: legal capacity and access to justice, sexual and gender-based violence, accessibility, and intersectionality. We are advocating for a justice system that wholeheartedly embraces women and girls with disabilities, ensuring their voices are not only heard but amplified. This involves transforming courtrooms into inclusive environments where essential supports—such as trained sign language interpreters, accessible information materials, and practical assistance—are readily available. Every individual deserves the opportunity to participate fully in legal processes that shape their lives. In a world where women and girls with disabilities often find themselves forgotten amidst the shadows of violence, we are committed to shining a light on their suffering. Our mission is to ensure that their stories are told, their cases are taken seriously, and that we hold governments accountable for safeguarding their rights. Justice must prevail; every survivor deserves to feel seen, supported, and believed. We are leveraging the power of the law to tear down barriers that isolate and marginalize. Our campaign demands that information, public spaces, services, and court buildings become genuinely accessible and welcoming to all. We refuse to accept that justice should be confined behind closed doors; it must be open to everyone, providing a clear pathway for equality and inclusivity. Discrimination weaves a complex tapestry of challenges, and women and girls with disabilities face a unique set of obstacles stemming from multiple identities. Their experiences are shaped by intertwining factors such as age, race, economic status, and sexual orientation. We are devoted to advocating for the legal acknowledgement of these layered identities and striving for rights that reflect the full richness and complexity of their lived realities. Together, we can build a foundation for justice that recognizes and champions every facet of who they are.

The litigation work is supported by the organisation’s three priority areas: building partnerships for social justice, producing knowledge for social change, and strengthening capacity to litigate strategically.  ISLA believes in the power of partnerships. We are actively building connections with organisations of and for persons with disabilities (OPDs), and civil society groups advocating for the rights of women with disabilities. By working together, we can take on more cases, develop jurisprudence, and create lasting change. Strategic Collaborations, whether through partnerships or case referrals, can. It helps us grow our efforts and elevate the voices of women with disabilities across the continent. We are calling on OPDs, civil society organisations, legal professionals, and members of the public to refer cases involving  Rights of Women with Disabilities Thematic Area. These cases are essential in helping us challenge discriminatory laws and create new legal pathways that are open to all. The knowledge production work is an investment in the development of a curriculum that will be taught to the feminist litigation network lawyers and other lawyer formations that may emerge from the ongoing consultation process. In line with our narrow remit and targeted interventions model, we will convene capacity strengthening activities for the lawyers that are part of our network.

The launch of ISLA’s RWD Thematic Area marks the beginning of a collective journey. By combining strategic litigation, community partnerships, and advocacy, and sustained financial support, we can break down the barriers that have stood for far too long. Together, we can build a continent where justice is accessible to everyone.

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