As the world celebrated International Women’s Day recently, the Avril Elizabeth Home for the Mentally Handicapped reminded the community that women with intellectual disabilities need to have the same rights as all other women.
Also, all those giving of their skills and energy to make their lives comfortable need to be applauded for the work they do.
“All too often intellectually disabled women are marginalized and face both gender-based and disability-related discrimination,” said Kathy Jooste, chief executive officer for the Avril Elizabeth Home.
“Able-bodied women face gender-based challenges, too, but they are able to fight for their rights.
“The intellectually disabled women in our care cannot do so.
“They rely on the government, family and our organisation to not only care for them, but to advocate for their rights and to protect them.
“Our staff are great advocates for our residents’ rights.
“We are very grateful for their loyalty and dedication to our home and to those in our care.
“They work tirelessly to ensure that we provide the best holistic care possible and share in our commitment to provide our women with the right to dignity and respect, as well as the right to enjoy a decent life.”
Jooste said that this year’s theme for International Women’s Day was “Inspiring Change”.
“We challenge South Africans to use this month, which not only celebrates women, but also celebrates human rights and is marked as Intellectual Disability Awareness Month, to help change the way women and the intellectually disabled are treated.
“Discrimination, violence and the lack of enforcement of policies and legislation that were drawn up to address the rights of the disabled and that of women, are serious human rights issues,” she said.
“It is time we stood together as a nation against these gross human rights abuses.
“Let’s push for change.
“Let’s make 2014 the year that violence against women decreases, that intellectually disabled women are treated with dignity and that access to services for all people with intellectual disabilities are increased and improved.”
To find out more about the Avril Elizabeth Home, or how to donate, go to www.avril.org.za, or contact 011 822-2233.
