In a press release issued here on Friday, Komnas Perempuan commissioner Andy Yentriyani said that women and girls with disabilities have multiple vulnerabilities as women and as persons with disabilities.
"These vulnerabilities often overlap with other vulnerabilities, especially low education, poverty, poor health services, and negative stigma from society," she informed.
She also asked the Ministry of Health to provide optimal and inclusive services related to women's reproductive health to women and girls with disabilities.
According to Yentriyani, Komnas Perempuan has found that most girls with disabilities who fall victim to sexual violence are in the age range of 8–19 years.
"The findings show that most victims are aged between 8–19 years old, where they are in primary and secondary education. Most of them do not have sufficient knowledge about sexual and reproductive health," she noted.
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At the same time, many parents or families do not know how to raise and educate girls with disabilities due to their low educational background and economic factors, she explained.
For that reason, Komnas Perempuan has asked the Ministry of Health to improve health workers' knowledge and skills in providing services to persons with disabilities and increase access to reproductive health services for women with disabilities, especially in rural and remote areas, she said.
The commission has urged the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) to disseminate information on gender equality and provide inclusive education on reproductive health to persons with disabilities living in rural and remote areas, she added.
"KPPPA should strengthen the integration of the special needs of women and girls with disabilities who are victims of sexual violence in women's and children's protection programs," she remarked.
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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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