Washington, D.C., December 2, 2025. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – As part of the global campaign 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and one day before the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, more than 300 participants from the Americas Region took part in the launch of PAHO’s new fact sheet on addressing violence against girls and women with disabilities. This resource is designed to support health teams in understanding specific risks and implementing inclusive, evidence-based responses.
The virtual meeting brought together representatives of civil society organizations, specialists, and technical teams from various countries to strengthen the response of health services to violence against girls and women with disabilities.
The panel included Natalia Sofía Guala Beathyate from ONCE (Spanish National Organization of the Blind), Cristina A. Francisco Reyes from RIADIS (Latin American Network of Organizations of People with Disabilities and their Families), Marcela Tenorio from MICARE (Millennium Institute for Care Research), and Gonzalo Larrabure from Special Olympics, who shared experiences and key recommendations for improving access to support services for girls and women with disabilities.
During the session, the panelists addressed the persistent challenges in providing an accessible, timely, and survivor-centered response. They highlighted communication and attitudinal barriers, the need for healthcare personnel to receive adequate training to provide frontline support (ANIMA approach), and the importance of creating safe environments that allow women and girls with disabilities to report situations of violence and receive quality support.
The PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor for Violence and Injury Prevention, Britta Monika Baer, emphasized that “Health services play a crucial role in responding to violence against women and girls with disabilities. By ensuring our teams are trained, and protocols are adapted, we can offer truly accessible support centered on survivors of violence in all their diversity.”
The event also included a discussion on structural and social factors that increase the risk of violence—such as stigma, prejudice, isolation, dependence on caregivers, and poverty—and on opportunities to integrate solutions from the health sector, in coordination with the justice system, education, and community organizations.
Likewise, Gustavo Pérez Reina, PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor on Disability and Rehabilitation, stressed that “to build safe and inclusive environments, we must listen to the experiences of people with disabilities and work together to eliminate barriers, so that every woman and girl can access the support she deserves.” For more information, visit the PAHO fact sheet and resources on strengthening the health system to address violence against women and girls.
For more information, visit the PAHO fact sheet and resources on strengthening the health system to address violence against women and girls.
