Women with disabilities in Africa face numerous barriers when it comes to actively participating in political life and
claiming positions of power. These obstacles — whether structural, social, or legal — are compounded by gender — and disability-based violence. However, progress is being made through legislative frameworks and initiatives aimed at enhancing their participation, although the path to genuine inclusion remains fraught with challenges.
Institutional and legal framework: Slow progress
At the regional level, several legal instruments have been adopted to protect the rights of women with disabilities, including Article XXII of the Maputo Protocol (2003) and the African Protocol on Disability (2018) from the African Union. However, their impact remains limited. The Maputo Protocol, ratified by 44 of the 55 member states, lacks a clear definition of disability-related discrimination, leading to variable interpretations that hinder its implementation. While it aims to promote women's rights, it remains largely unimplemented for women with disabilities. The African Protocol on Disability, though providing a precise definition of discrimination, suffers from low ratification rates, with only 15 member states adopting it.
In Kenya, a 5% parliamentary quota for people with disabilities was introduced. However, as of February 2023, no women with disabilities had been elected. In Rwanda, the 2003 Constitution guarantees a 30% quota for women in political institutions and reserves seats for people with disabilities: one in the Chamber of Deputies and eight in the Senate. Despite this, no women with disabilities had gained a parliamentary seat until 2024, when Olivia Mbabazi was elected. Similar quotas have been adopted in Uganda and Zimbabwe, the latter distinguishing itself with a specific quota for women with disabilities, including seats in provincial and metropolitan councils.
Despite these advances, the seats reserved for people with disabilities remain insufficient to significantly influence public policies. Many African countries still lack mechanisms to ensure the effective participation of women with disabilities in political life, reflecting a lack of political will. In some cases, they are legally excluded, as in Kenya, Uganda, and Cameroon, where women with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities are barred from registering on voter rolls or denied legal documentation, preventing them from exercising their right to vote. This situation is not confined to Africa, as highlighted in our December 3, 2024 op-ed, which notes similar issues in Europe.
Violence and stigma: Major obstacles to political engagement
Widespread stigma, fueled by deeply rooted myths and stereotypes, continues to hinder the political participation of women with disabilities. In Nigeria, for example, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) found that very few women with disabilities dare to run for elections. Those who do often fail to progress beyond the initial stages due to prejudices about their ability to lead. This invisibility in the public sphere reinforces their marginalization and limits their opportunities to influence political decisions.
The increased violence they face as both women and people with disabilities further deters their political engagement. Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) is a deeply entrenched issue in Africa, affecting approximately 80% of female parliamentarians, according to a 2021 Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) survey. Women with disabilities are even more likely to experience such violence. While no specific studies exist on violence against women with disabilities in politics, research shows they are significantly more vulnerable to violence than their non-disabled counterparts, suggesting an intensification of risks in political contexts.
A UN report found that women with disabilities are two to three times more likely to experience violence than other women. In Africa, the statistics are alarming: 83% of women with disabilities reportedly experience sexual violence during their lifetime, and 40% to 68% endure such violence before the age of 18, according to Handicap International. Women with intellectual disabilities are particularly vulnerable, being ten times more likely to face violence.
Women with disabilities bear a dual burden: stigma related to their disability and increased violence. This burden is amplified when they enter politics, making them particularly vulnerable. This environment perpetuates a cycle of marginalization and exclusion from decision-making spheres.
In response, the AHADI Foundation launched its AHADI Community program, providing a safe and supportive space for women with disabilities to develop their leadership skills, achieve empowerment, actively engage in political life, and advocate for the rights they are so often denied.
Financial and structural challenges: A double barrier
The barriers to political participation for women with disabilities do not stop at stigma and violence. Financial and structural challenges further exacerbate their exclusion. Compared to men with disabilities, women with disabilities are three times more likely to be illiterate, twice as likely to be unemployed, and half as likely to use the internet, placing them in a situation of heightened economic vulnerability. These disparities hinder their ability to run for office or even vote, especially given the high costs associated with electoral processes.
Nomination fees, though sometimes reduced for people with disabilities, and campaign expenses significantly limit the capacity of women with disabilities to run for office, as they are often in more precarious situations than men with disabilities or non-disabled individuals. The lack of political party support further exacerbates this, with insufficient funds allocated to enable them to conduct effective campaigns.
A woman in Gokwe, Zimbabwe, cited in an ALIGN briefing note, stated: "I am in a wheelchair, and you talk about campaigning. How can I do it without resources, without a car, and without campaign materials? I cannot even attend consultation meetings or rallies, let alone campaign."
This reality reflects structural exclusion reinforced by the lack of accessible infrastructure and financial resources. Some initiatives have emerged in Africa to address these inequalities. In Kenya, 30% of public party funding must be allocated to the representation of women, youth, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. In Ghana, proposals have been made to allocate public funds directly to female candidates and reduce their nomination fees. However, despite legislative progress, these reforms struggle to be implemented due to the absence of oversight mechanisms, limiting their impact.
According to a 2024 Handicap and Inclusion survey, 75% of women with disabilities reported no significant progress in the past five years in strengthening their power or participation in decision-making in their countries. Violence and persistent systemic barriers continue to result in the underrepresentation of women with disabilities in politics.
While this article highlights some of the obstacles women with disabilities face in accessing power, the reality is far more complex. In-depth studies are needed to provide a more accurate picture of the situation. This is the mission of the AHADI Foundation through its AHADI Data program, which is currently developing a comprehensive report to propose tailored measures to improve the effective participation of women with disabilities in Africa and globally.
