Gendered social norms and related stereotypes lie at the root of gender inequality, operating at all levels of society including state duty-bearers, communities, families and even women themselves, impeding the exercise of their human rights including their equal participation and access to services. This is recognized in the CEDAW Article 5 which requires State Parties to take all appropriate measures to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women. Women and girls with disabilities face intersectional challenges of stigma and discrimination based both on their gender and their disability, leaving them further behind. Development interventions have in practice focused on legal, policy and institutional responses to strengthen gender equality and disability inclusion. Essentially, these and other initiatives should form part of the broader system-wide approaches which address norms and stereotypes and behaviour related to them. Too often, the latter is either neglected, or addressed only through awareness-raising campaigns with no reliable means to monitor their effectiveness in changing attitudes and behaviour. Development practice still lacks tried and tested methodologies to change behaviour and evaluate impact.
The UNDP (and other UN entities) have in recent years paid more attention to the potential of interventions based on behavioural science to change attitudes and behaviour rooted in stigma, and to more scientific methods to monitor and evaluate the impact and learn what works. They are now beginning to explore applications in the field of gender equality, but they have yet to achieve substantial impact at the country level.
The UNDP in collaboration with UN Women is leading a Global programme entitled Addressing stigma and discrimination for empowering women and girls with disabilities and protecting them from violence in four countries including Samoa. The main project outcome is National stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental) are capable to address stigma and discrimination against women and girls with disabilities. At the output level, it is intended that knowledge of the stigmatization of women and girls with disabilities at the policy level is strengthened by the (i) development and implementation of a pilot tool to detect, identify, and assess stigma and discrimination against women and girls with disabilities; and (ii) awareness and sensitization campaign on the rights of women and girls with disabilities to live a life free of stigma.
The project will be based on a victim-centred and evidence-based approach, that fully takes into account the voices and experiences of women and girls with disabilities victims and survivors of stigma, violence and discrimination. The project’s strategy will ensure a participatory approach by effectively engaging stakeholders in the planning, designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project. A critical component of the programme is developing tools to detect and assess stigma and discrimination against women with disabilities. To that end, an international consultant has been recruited by the Global Programme to support Country Offices in customizing the developed tools and framework of interventions.