Fighting violence is not only about preventing violence. It also means ensuring that every woman who has experienced violence can access the safe, accessible, and dignified support she needs.
October 1 is observed in Armenia as the Day for the Prevention and Fight Against Domestic Violence. This occasion also gives us an opportunity to reflect on one of our key areas of work over the past months: making support services more inclusive and accessible for women and girls with disabilities who have experienced violence.
Within the framework of the “Inclusive Future for All” project, funded by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, “Agate” Rights Defense Center for Women with Disabilities NGO has conducted a series of trainings for staff of support centers and organizations working in different regions of Armenia and in Yerevan.
Over the past months, our experts have met with representatives of organizations in Shirak, Tavush, Syunik, Aragatsotn, Armavir, Lori, Vayots Dzor, Kotayk, and Gegharkunik, as well as organizations based in Yerevan.
During these trainings, we discussed issues that are essential for ensuring genuinely accessible support for women and girls with disabilities, including:
🔹 the intersection of disability, gender, and multiple discrimination;
🔹 barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities who have experienced violence;
🔹 physical, communication, and digital accessibility of services;
🔹 universal design and reasonable accommodation;
🔹 rights-based and trauma-sensitive approaches;
🔹 safety planning and support tailored to individual needs.
It was important for us that these meetings went beyond theoretical knowledge. The trainings included practical exercises, case discussions, and professional experience-sharing, allowing participants to look at their everyday work from the perspective of the rights, needs, and potential barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities.
Over these months, we have not only talked about inclusive services, but have also worked together with professionals to explore what is needed to make support genuinely accessible to every woman in practice.
October 1 is another opportunity to remember that the right to protection from violence and the right to receive support belong to everyone.
For women with disabilities, accessible support services are not an additional opportunity or privilege — they are a right.
We are grateful to all the organizations and professionals who took part in this process, shared their experiences, and showed willingness to review their approaches and services to make them more accessible and inclusive.
Inclusive support begins when the needs and rights of every woman are seen and recognized.