Long Past Time to End the Abuse and Exploitation of Disabled Women

Today marks International Day of Disabled People, this year the theme is "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future." This year there is a global call for the recognition and empowerment of disabled people across all sectors of society.

How can this be achieved when Disability Action continue to experience a surge in the exploitation and abuse of disabled women. Often at the hands of organised crime. Throughout 2024 we have provided assistance to disabled women who have experienced horrific and life destroying violence. This is not new, but throughout 2024 we at Disability Action have experienced a surge in cases- and an increase in the extreme violent nature of the abuse which disabled women have experienced.

Disabled women are disproportionately affected by violence, but our voices often go unheard.. Research consistently shows that disabled women are more likely to experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse compared to their non-disabled counterparts. In Northern Ireland we do not have any bespoke services to protect of support disabled women who experience abuse, exploitation and violence that are designed for and by disabled women. We have only very limited bespoke and accessible services. As a society, we are failing disabled women and as a result abuse unnoticed or unreported, exacerbating and escalating the experiences of abuse and violence that disabled women are experiencing across Northern Ireland.

One disabled woman accessing our services told us

“At the time, I didn’t recognise that I was being abused; I thought it was just part of a normal relationship. It wasn't until things escalated, and the abuse became more intense, that I realised how bad it had gotten. I experienced verbal, physical, and sexual violence, and he even started taking money from me and making me be with his friends whether I wanted to or not. I was overwhelmed, desperate for it to stop, I wanted it to end right then and there but wasn’t until he threatened me with a gun that I fully understood that this was completely unacceptable. I still live in the same house, on the same street. I know he can come back anytime. I am scared- but I have nowhere to go.”

Unfortunately, many existing programmes which Disability Action fully support, and welcome are not adequately funded to address the unique risks and challenges faced by disabled women. Without targeted interventions and services designed for and by disabled women we will remain overlooked.

Stigma and misconceptions about disability, combined with a lack of accessible healthcare, limited personal autonomy, and inadequate relationships and sexuality education are significant barriers which disabled women face on a daily basis. As we mark International Day of Disabled People, let this be the year that we secure a full commitment from the Executive and Assembly to end Violence against Disabled Women in Girls and to invest in accessible services, emergency accommodation and support programmes.


Nuala Toman, Disability Action