Who’s Missing? Women With Disabilities in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 National Action Plans

Title: 
Who’s Missing? Women With Disabilities in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 National Action Plans
Journal Citation: 
18 ILSA JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW, 395–412 (2012)

This article discusses the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 National Action Plans (UNSCR 1325 NAPs) and their exclusion of women with disabilities. Representation and fairness are the main reasons women with disabilities should be included in the NAPs. The unique perspective brought by women with disabilities is especially important, since multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination can exacerbate violence against women. Few NAPs, however, refer to women with disabilities. The article outlines several problems surrounding this issue, including the lack of involvement of people or organizations devoted to women with disabilities in the drafting of the NAPs. The article surveys the NAPs of several countries, both those that have included women with disabilities and those that have not. It concludes that since the percentage of persons with disabilities is increasing, it is now urgently necessary for countries to involve women with disabilities in their policy-making processes in order to promote democracy.