Rwandan women with disabilities call for fair access to jobs
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The New Times (Rwanda)
Advocates for women with disabilities in Rwanda are calling for targeted measures to improve their access to employment, citing barriers in recruitment and inaccessible workplaces. A document by the Organisation of Women with Disabilities for Health Promotion and Development in Rwanda, based on a review of the 2019 National Employment Policy, identifies gaps in addressing their needs.
Rwandan advocates are calling for targeted measures to improve women with disabilities’ access to employment, despite existing policies promoting equal opportunities. A position paper by the Organisation of Women with Disabilities for Health Promotion and Development in Rwanda (OWDHD), based on a review of the 2019 National Employment Policy, identifies gaps in addressing their specific needs, The New Times reports.
Marie Louise Mukangoga, OWDHD vice-president, cites difficulties accessing recruitment procedures, workplace adjustments, assistive devices, internships and mentoring. She is calling for job adverts, applications, interviews and workplaces to be made accessible.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda cited by Nicodem Hakizimana, director of the Organisation for the Integration and Promotion of Persons with Albinism, the employment rate for women with disabilities is 22.6%, compared with 56.9% for women without disabilities. The employment-to-population ratio is 18.8% for women with disabilities and 28.4% for men with disabilities.
Hakizimana believes the gaps also concern funding, inclusive recruitment, employer awareness and institutional accountability. He also points to shortcomings in accessibility, vocational training and the implementation of policies.
