Living with Disability and Experiencing GBV in Zimbabwe

What happens when the world sees you as invisible? When your voice is already unheard because of your disability and now you must also survive the silent violence of Gender Based Violence?

On Day 9 of the 16 Days of Activism, we confront a harrowing truth, for women and girls living with disabilities in Zimbabwe, the fight against GBV is twice as hard. They are not only battling the injustices of gender inequality but also the systemic marginalisation of disability. In their stories, we find not just pain but resilience and a call for us to do better.

Globally, women with disabilities are three times more likely to experience GBV than those without. In Zimbabwe, the statistics are equally alarming.

• Many women with disabilities face sexual abuse at the hands of caregivers, family members or community members, yet the crimes often go unreported.
• A 2022 study revealed that 75% of women with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa had experienced some form of violence, often due to their perceived vulnerability and inability to defend themselves.

These numbers don’t just tell a story of violence, they expose a society that has systematically failed to protect some of its most vulnerable members.

When we talk about GBV, do we think of the woman in a wheelchair who fears assault every time she leaves her home? Do we think of the teenager with hearing impairments whose screams for help go unheard or the visually impaired survivor who cannot identify her attacker?

Disability doesn’t protect someone from violence; it makes them a target. And the layers of discrimination, ableism and sexism, mean that justice is often inaccessible.

For survivors living with disabilities, the barriers to justice are not just systemic—they are personal and isolating.

• Communication gaps - Survivors with hearing impairments struggle to report abuse in systems without interpreters. Survivors with intellectual disabilities often face disbelief or dismissal of their testimony.
• Physical inaccessibility - Police stations, clinics and courts are often not designed to accommodate people with disabilities, leaving survivors unable to access critical services.
• Dependency on abusers - Many women with disabilities rely on their abusers for daily care, making it even harder to escape cycles of violence.

When justice is out of reach, the silence around their pain deepens.

One of the most devastating aspects of this issue is the harmful myths that fuel violence against people with disabilities.

• Some abusers believe that women with disabilities are “easy targets” who cannot fight back or report abuse.
• There is a pervasive and horrifying myth in some communities that raping a woman with a disability cures diseases or brings good fortune.
• Many in society see women with disabilities as less human, less deserving of respect and less likely to marry, attitudes that strip them of dignity and agency.

These beliefs are not just wrong, they are dangerous. They must be dismantled.

If silence protects abusers, then what does double silence do? Women with disabilities need our voices to amplify theirs, our actions to bridge the gaps in justice and our commitment to ensure their stories are not forgotten.

Here’s what we can do as a society.

1. Make justice accessible - Every police station, hospital, and court should be disability friendly. This means interpreters for the deaf, accessible buildings for those with physical disabilities and specialized training for professionals to handle cases sensitively.
2. Empower survivors with disabilities - Support services must cater to the unique needs of survivors, from tailored counseling to legal aid that ensures their rights are upheld.
3. Educate the public - Awareness campaigns must challenge the harmful myths that dehumanize women with disabilities. Everyone must understand that a woman’s humanity and rights are not diminished by her disability.
4. Listen and believe - Survivors with disabilities are often dismissed as unreliable witnesses. But their voices matter. We must believe them, protect them and fight for them.
5. Involve people with disabilities in policymaking - No solution will be effective unless it is guided by the lived experiences of people with disabilities. Their insights must shape our laws, services and societal attitudes.

?? How can you use your voice to advocate for survivors with disabilities?

?? What systems need to change to ensure justice is accessible for all?

?? When was the last time you actively included people with disabilities in your activism or community efforts?

GBV affects everyone, but the fight is harder for those society forgets. Today, let’s promise not to forget.

?? Share Your Thoughts: What more can Zimbabwe do to protect and empower women with disabilities? Let’s have an honest conversation in the comments.??

#16DaysOfActivism #EndGBV #DisabilityRights #NoOneLeftBehind #StopTheViolence #GenderEquality #Zimbabwe #InclusionMatters