By [Elizabeth Kayanga], Executive Director, Integrated Disabled Women Activities (IDIWA) In our work at Integrated Disabled Women Activities, we are often confronted by the complex realities facing women and girls with disabilities. Climate change, gender-based violence, and disability related challenges form a unique, intersectional burden that demands tailored policies and actions. The recent amendments to the Kaliro District Policy on Disability Inclusive GBV Services and Climate Justice stand as a critical measure to address these overlapping issues head-on, aiming to safeguard and empower our most vulnerable communities while fostering resilience against climate-related risks. Disability, climate vulnerability, and gender-based violence do not operate in isolation. Each factor exacerbates the others, creating layered risks that disproportionately impact women and girls with disabilities. In a world increasingly affected by the effects of climate change, the ability to live safely and with dignity becomes even more precarious for those who face compounded vulnerabilities. Climate change has far-reaching impacts on resources, health, and security, and the most marginalized, including women and girls with disabilities, are often the first to feel its adverse effects. Resource scarcity, displacement, and food insecurity contribute to greater incidences of GBV, making it essential for our policies to evolve in ways that recognize and address these interconnected threats. The amendments to the Kaliro District Policy on Disability Inclusive GBV Services and Climate Justice represent a transformative step forward. By embedding disability and climate justice considerations within the GBV framework, the policy is now more responsive to the specific needs of WGDs who face heightened risks under adverse climate conditions. The policy ensures that WGDs have prioritized access to GBV response services, shelter, and legal assistance, all critical resources that previously may have been inaccessible. With a new emphasis on sustainable practices, the policy directs more resources toward building climate resilience among WGDs. This includes establishing community-driven initiatives focused on adaptive skills for climate challenges, such as eco-friendly farming techniques and climate-responsive economic opportunities. The amendment process was not merely a legislative exercise; it involved collaboration with WGDs, local leaders, duty bearers, and climate advocates who contributed critical insights on the real-world implications of GBV and climate change. This inclusive approach allowed us to capture diverse perspectives, particularly from those directly affected by these crises, enabling us to draft a policy that serves our communities more effectively. While these policy changes are encouraging, they are just the beginning. We call upon policymakers, donors, and the broader community to rally behind these reforms and to engage in ongoing advocacy for the rights of WGDs. IDIWA is committed to facilitating continuous training, community sensitization, and robust monitoring to ensure these changes translate into meaningful impact. The amended Kaliro District Policy on Disability Inclusive GBV Services and Climate Justice is a milestone in our journey toward an equitable society that upholds the dignity, safety, and empowerment of every individual. This comprehensive approach to addressing disability, GBV, and climate justice stands as an example for other districts in Uganda and beyond, signaling a way forward where no one is left behind in the fight for social, environmental, and gender justice.
Strengthening Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS in IDIWA’s activities
AIDS remains a global concern given its unprecedented impact on development. The economic and social impacts of AIDS are not uniform across countries nor within societies, yet wherever it strikes, AIDS affects individuals, communities and sectors, relentlessly eroding human capability, productivity and prospects. The need to deliver responses that leave no-one behind, reduce vulnerability to future pandemics, build resilience to future shocks and overcome the severe and systematic inequalities exposed by this pandemic is quite urgent. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are not targeted by many HIV/AIDS actors which results into lack of information and vulnerability to the pandemic. IDIWA conducts monthly HIV/AIDS sessions for staff and Board members, annual Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) surveys, and mainstreams HIV/AIDS in all program activities.
Climate and Environment Conservation (CEC)
Given that the livelihoods of women and girls with disabilities, are determined by climate, IDIWA works to enhance environmental protection and management to ensure climate action is disability-inclusive, protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and empowering them to be part of the solution. IDIWA also intends to strengthen the capacities of women and girls with disabilities to respond to climate change by ensuring that information is made available and accessible. Sensitization and advocacy on environmental justice is incorporated in program activities; to ensure innovation on environmental protection, IDIWA has embarked on tree planting corresponding with program implementation.
Mental Health and Well-being (MHW)
Being mentally healthy or managing mental health conditions is important within the running of IDIWA daily activities, persons with disability are exposed to enormous stress that puts their physical, mental, and social well-being further at risk. The consequences of the impact of mental health include burnout, mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, unhealthy behaviors like drug addiction, frequent absence from work, reduced productivity while at work, frequent accidents and mistakes, breach of protocols, and increased risk of infections.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
At least 15 percent of the world population is living with disabilities. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have the potential for making significant improvements in the lives of persons with disabilities, allowing them to enhance their social, cultural, political and economic integration in communities by enlarging the scope of activities available to them. IDIWA has explored the use of technology in all her programs. IDIWA believes that access to digital development should be seen as a Human Right. Making ICT accessible to more people, especially those who would be able to benefit most in using digitalization to bridge existing gaps, can have a stark impact on societies and enable PWDs prosper.
Institutional Development (ID)
Institutional Development is part of change, and therefore, to be able to effectively deliver its mandate, IDIWA develops more effective change management processes, and ensure effective use of resources to increase efficiency and productivity, to analyze processes in more proficient ways, and solve problems within the organization.