New Guidelines Endorsed on Violence against Persons with Disabilities
February 28 2022
SHARE
The Institute for Family Health (IFH), the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCPRD) and the International Association for the Development of Women (AIDOS) have endorsed new ‘Guiding Principles on Gender-Based Violence against Persons with Disabilities’.
The new guidelines offer details on mechanisms for self-protection against abuse and violence, methods of disclosure, how best to elicit information from victims, help persons with disabilities express their exposures to abuse, assault and violence with better confidence and clarity and tailor such processes for persons with different disabilities. The guidelines also include a review of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on persons with disabilities.
Dr. Muhannad Al-Azza, Secretary General of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, highlighted that the guide represents the cornerstone of a long-awaited framework regarding protection against violence. Until recently, such protection was neither comprehensive nor universally adopted by facilities, services, and specialists for persons with disabilities, who are among the most vulnerable groups regarding abuse, violence and discrimination.
IFH Director Dr. Ibrahim Aqel has announced that the Institute will adopt the guidelines in its three centers in Sweileh, Irbid and Zarqa. Workshops will train additional staff from HCS, IFH staff and civil society organizations that work with women and persons with disabilities.
The ‘Guiding Principles on Gender-Based Violence against Persons with Disabilities’ initiative was funded by the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation.