Women and girls with disabilities have the same sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs as their peers without disabilities. Yet, too often, stigma and misconceptions about disability – along with a lack of accessible health services, limited personal autonomy, and little to no sexuality education – prevent persons with disabilities (PWDs) from leading healthy sexual lives.

A global study from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reveals that girls and young women with disabilities face up to 10 times more gender-based violence (GBV) than those without disabilities. Girls with intellectual disabilities are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. 

The UNFPA and Rehabilitation International (RI) Initiative from 2019 to 2021 carried a series of advocacy to strengthen SRH information and services for PWDs in both China and developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region in support of the full realization of disability inclusive development.