This is my third article in two days......writing too much these days aah...Woow....well it helps me to ease off. So today i am writing on a sensitive issue. Most of us really don't bother about disabled people around us, leave alone the problems faced by them. I will talk about a common practice known as Hysterectomies or sterilization performed on mentally challenged girls, both by their parents and by the state agencies.
It is basically to avoid pregnancy. Mostly disabled girls are victims of abuse- sexual exploitation & violence. Generally it is the mothers who choose to remain silent. Yes it is the parents & the society who instead of raising voices against the abuse choose to prefer the process of hysterectomies, so that girl doesn't get pregnant. However, since decades this is a common practice by many state govt.They give an excuse that it helps to maintain women's hygiene during menstruation. It is better to remove their uterus at a young age as the special needs to these girls don't allow them to manage their periods. This is a lame excuse coz the real purpose behind it is cruel. Ideally it is denial of women's basic right to have child. Although it is also a fact that a poor family will not think of all these aspects. So what to do then???
India being a signatory to UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability 2007, which guarantees all disabled women " the right to full bodily integrity, it is time it brings strong legislations on subject of violence towards disabled women & girls. It is only then one can expect the poor people to come out and raise their voice against the abuse. The good news is that the new draft on Disability Bill is strongly advocating these issues such as protection against all kinds of sexual abuse & violence; protection in all settings including schools,homes, care-homes, workplaces; safe & accessible complaint mechanism to report abuses and full support for the survivors of the abuse.
Now the only fear is that govt doesn't dilute the bill and implement the provisions in the right spirit. However, the positive aspect is that these sensitive issues are being talked and awareness is increasing. Hopefully one day disabled people esp disabled women (as they are doubly prone to exploitation) become empowered enough that their parents don't get forced to go on this path of Hysterectomy.
It is basically to avoid pregnancy. Mostly disabled girls are victims of abuse- sexual exploitation & violence. Generally it is the mothers who choose to remain silent. Yes it is the parents & the society who instead of raising voices against the abuse choose to prefer the process of hysterectomies, so that girl doesn't get pregnant. However, since decades this is a common practice by many state govt.They give an excuse that it helps to maintain women's hygiene during menstruation. It is better to remove their uterus at a young age as the special needs to these girls don't allow them to manage their periods. This is a lame excuse coz the real purpose behind it is cruel. Ideally it is denial of women's basic right to have child. Although it is also a fact that a poor family will not think of all these aspects. So what to do then???
India being a signatory to UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability 2007, which guarantees all disabled women " the right to full bodily integrity, it is time it brings strong legislations on subject of violence towards disabled women & girls. It is only then one can expect the poor people to come out and raise their voice against the abuse. The good news is that the new draft on Disability Bill is strongly advocating these issues such as protection against all kinds of sexual abuse & violence; protection in all settings including schools,homes, care-homes, workplaces; safe & accessible complaint mechanism to report abuses and full support for the survivors of the abuse.
Now the only fear is that govt doesn't dilute the bill and implement the provisions in the right spirit. However, the positive aspect is that these sensitive issues are being talked and awareness is increasing. Hopefully one day disabled people esp disabled women (as they are doubly prone to exploitation) become empowered enough that their parents don't get forced to go on this path of Hysterectomy.
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