Mónika Zsúnyi is 26 years outdated and lives in Temerin, Serbia. She holds a MSc diploma in Utilized Arithmetic, she is engaged in 3D modeling and likes to learn. Residing with a cerebral palsy, she can be very lively in selling rights of individuals with disabilities in Serbia.
In Serbia, round 8 per cent of the whole inhabitants — practically 600,000 folks, the vast majority of them ladies and women — lives with some type of incapacity. But they’re removed from being handled equally, particularly in terms of sexual and reproductive well being.
One in 5 ladies and adolescent women with disabilities in Serbia say they’ve problem accessing wanted well being providers, in keeping with a research carried out by UNFPA and Iz Kruga Vojvodina, a corporation offering help to ladies with disabilities. One in 4 is unhappy with the sexual and reproductive well being providers they obtain. One in seven has by no means had a gynaecological examination. And just one in 4 says they will freely and independently resolve if they need youngsters, or have their household’s help in doing so.
These multi-layered challenges are perpetuated by persistent destructive stereotypes and prejudices in society, discovered even amongst well being professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic has solely exacerbated these difficulties. Ladies and younger folks with disabilities are practically 3 times extra seemingly than their non-disabled friends to expertise sexual violence, and they’re susceptible to being left behind within the response to the COVID-19 disaster.
Mónika Zsúnyi
However ladies with disabilities in Serbia are main the efforts to make the world extra equitable and inclusive, by elevating consciousness about incapacity, setting requirements for inclusivity and championing laws to advance their rights.
“I’m a lady with a incapacity. I reside with cerebral palsy, I’ve problem talking and shifting. I attempt to be as unbiased as attainable and reside a full life. Sexual life is a part of that,” says Monika, considered one of 5 ladies who’re championing sexual and reproductive well being.
With UNFPA help, ladies from the municipalities of Raska, Temerin, Uzice, Valjevo and Vranje are studying about reproductive rights, mapping limitations and creating native options. And the COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped them. They moved all of their actions on-line and joined forces with others of their communities to turn into advocates for change.
“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic we carried out nearly the entire venture on-line. I needed to face the concern that nobody within the on-line house would perceive me due to my speech (it’s simpler to know me once I communicate nose to nose). On the identical time, I had the chance to get acquainted with the approach and prospects of on-line work, which has at all times been a problem for me. I’m very pleased with the work of the ladies of our Affiliation. They frequently received concerned in trainings, whatever the obligations they’d past that. They had been at all times current and open to speak about extra delicate subjects,” shares Monika.
The ladies made nice strides in lower than a 12 months marked with the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide: getting a hydraulic desk for gynaecological check-ups again into service, made films in regards to the limitations they face and efficiently engaged with native coverage makers to supply and advocate for options to their issues throughout and after COVID-19 pandemics.
“These actions pushed me out of my consolation zone a bit, and broke down the prejudices I had about myself – that I’m not able to being a pacesetter as a result of my problem in talking,” Monika says. “Our life shouldn’t be at all times straightforward, however it’s at all times value preventing for our rights.”
