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DPI NAC re-launches the Regional Women's Network! When the disability consumer self-help movement began in our region, women with disabilities were an integral part of its formation. The issues addressed in the initial stages were gender-related, and as the movement developed issues specific to women with disabilities emerged. Many national assemblies established disabled women's groups and focused their attention on issues such as domestic violence, family life, reproductive health and economic independence.
Through numerous regional meetings and training programs, women with disabilities were empowered, and many now hold leadership positions with their organizations.
The disabled women's movement within the region became inactive for some time mainly because of the absence of a functioning regional secretariat.
This has changed with the establishment of a regional office and our region has become pro-active again. The opportunity was taken in Antigua in January 2004 during a capacity building conference to begin the process of revitalizing our regional women's network. In April 2005, the first meeting of a steering committee was held with ongoing meetings taking place via telephone.
The modus operandi drafted by the steering committee was adopted with some minor changes prior to the launching of the Network.
The steering committee was dissolved at the Disabled Peoples' International North America and the Caribbean (DPI NAC) Regional Assembly 2006, and the following women with disabilities were elected to the DPI NAC Regional Women's Network (RWN) Coordinating Committee, flanked by the DPI Executive Director on the extreme left and the DPI NAC Regional Executive Past Chair on the extreme right:
To read more on women's topics, please click on DPI Women's Resources. |
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