Global Forum on the Leadership of Women with Disabilities

04/03/2026

Today marks 3 years since Judy’s passing 💜 Every March 4th serves as a reminder to “march forth” in her honor!

Artwork by Avital Dayanim, photo by Shuran Huang
Image Description: Judy Heumann in her wheelchair smiling. Around the photo is a yellow and pink collage with flowers and leaves.

20/12/2025

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

17/12/2025

📢 You’re Invited: Follow-up Global Webinar
International Day of Persons with Disabilities &
Join us for a powerful follow-up webinar bringing together global leaders, UN agencies, and women with disabilities to reflect, connect, and advance action at the intersection of gender, disability, and leadership.
🗓 Date: 17 December 2025
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM (New York / EST)
🌐 Format: Virtual Webinar
This will highlight how women with disabilities are leading inclusive change, influencing policy, and shaping responses to emerging challenges such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence, recovery, and inclusive development.World Institute on Disability UN Women United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)International Disability Alliance United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) CIFAL Global Network
🎤 Distinguished Speakers Include:
Allison Colburn – Opening & Context Setting
Akiko Ito (CIFAL Japan)
A.H. Monjurul KABIR, Ph.D Kabir (UN Women)
Stephanie M. (UNFPA)
Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame (CRPD Committee / Sightsavers)
Susan Sygall(MIUSA, USA)
Bonnie Brayton (Disabled Women’s Network, Canada)
Takashi Minohara (UNITAR – Video Message)
Marcie Roth (World Institute on Disability)
Abia Akram, Chair, Global Forum of Women with Disabilities – Wrap-up & Strategic Insights
Zara Todd Claire Gebben

04/12/2025

14/10/2025

In late March, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which oversees anti-discrimination enforcement for the Department of Homeland Security, was dissolved. The entire office was found to be “non-essential or not legally mandated,” as were two smaller offices that conducted oversight of the immigration-detention system and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A spokesperson for D.H.S. referred to the three as “internal adversaries.” Civil-rights mechanisms at Homeland Security were essentially wiped out.

Across the federal government, offices and programs that work to insure equal treatment are increasingly in peril. The Department of Housing and Urban Development cancelled grants that go to poor people with disabilities. The Department of Health and Human Services, a division that helps disabled people and seniors live at home, had its staff cut in half. Trump’s trillion-dollar reduction in Medicaid spending, meanwhile, could make it harder for disabled people to access long-term care. The Department of Labor withdrew a plan to establish a minimum wage for workers with disabilities and abolished wage protections for the home-health aides who assist millions of seniors and disabled people. “Prior to this year, there was such a hope that the needle had moved,” a former employee of D.O.L. who is legally blind told E. Tammy Kim. “Now, I’m looking for employment. Do I even say I’m a person with disabilities?” Read about the impact of Trump’s attack on disability rights: https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/HhE1k4

11/10/2025

Women United will never be Defeated 🌸

disability alliance disability summit

25/09/2025

UN Women and the Global Forum on the Leadership of Women with Disabilities (GFLWD), in partnership with ATscale, are pleased to invite you to join the upcoming online regional consultation:

“Leveraging Assistive Technology for Women and Girls”
Date: September 30, 2025
Time: 7 AM New York | 2 PM Istanbul | 4 PM Islamabad
Format: Online via Zoom http://bit.ly/ATUNW

The event will be held in English. International Sign (IS) interpretation will be provided.

The event aims to hold consultations with organisations of persons with disabilities and the Regional level organisations to contribute in ‘Leveraging Assistive Technology for women and girls’ policy brief. This consultation will explore how assistive technologies—ranging from screen readers and voice-to-text applications to mobility tools and inclusive digital platforms—can promote autonomy, safety, and inclusion for women and girls with disabilities. The overarching theme of the consultation is translating regional experience into global leadership, building on the increased visibility of women with disabilities through their contributions to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Expected outcomes include:

Evidence-based policy recommendations on digital inclusion
Documentation of regional experiences to inform global advocacy
Strengthened visibility and leadership of women with disabilities
Enhanced awareness of assistive technology as a basic right
We would be honored by your participation and contributions to this important discussion.

Please register here: http://bit.ly/ATUNW

The UN Women and the Global Forum on the Leadership of Women with Disabilities will host a consultation event on Leveraging Assistive Technology for Women and Girls. The overarching theme of the consultation is translating regional experience into global leadership, building on the increased visibil...

02/08/2025

🌍 Now is the time is to build your skills for disability-inclusive resilience!

The 🆓 Disability-Inclusive DRR (DiDRR) e-Learning Course will equip you to ensure that persons with disabilities are not only protected, but actively involved.

📚 4 interactive modules:
- Participation in risk assessments
- Removing barriers to inclusion
- Inclusive early warning systems
- Strengthening engagement of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)

👥 For government officials, DRR practitioners, policymakers, OPDs, NGOs, students, etc.

💡 Scenario-based, self-paced, , fully accessible, and free— with videos, transcripts, and downloadable resources.

✅ Certificate awarded upon completion.

26/07/2025

📌 El Ministerio se encuentra dialogando con las organizaciones que trabajan los temas de las personas con discapacidades.

Encontrar soluciones, vincular instituciones y aportar a la inclusión de estas poblaciones es parte de los compromisos que asumimos.

Hoy el ministro Pablo Menoni se reunió con Natalia Farías y Sergio Meresman del Instituto Interamericano sobre Discapacidad y Desarrollo Inclusivo.