Women and girls with disabilities often face two layers of marginalisation: gender-based discrimination and the barriers created by ableism. These intersecting inequalities limit their access to basic rights, especially in the field of health care and reproductive health. Physical inaccessibility of medical facilities, lack of tailored information and prevailing stereotypes leave many without the knowledge or means to make informed decisions about their own bodies.
For adolescent girls, these challenges are compounded by the persistence of taboos around menstruation and sexuality. Many avoid discussing health concerns or lack access to essential products and information, resulting in both health risks and social exclusion.
To close these gaps, the NGO Handikos Mitrovica launched an initiative designed to break barriers and build confidence, equipping women and girls with disabilities with the knowledge, support and tools to claim their right to healthcare.
Strengthening Awareness and Confidence
Handikos Mitrovica engaged women and girls with disabilities in Mitrovica through an integrated set of trainings, information sessions, guided visits and advocacy actions aimed at strengthening their knowledge, agency and access to reproductive health care. Two three-day training groups in early July 2023 equipped 20 participants with essential information on reproductive health, sexuality, sexually transmitted infections, early pregnancy risks and institutional complaint mechanisms. In August, a follow-up session with women and mothers of children with disabilities deepened participants understanding of patient rights, while also documenting ten cases of alleged violations, laying the groundwork for future advocacy.
Simultaneously, Handikos Mitrovica provided a dedicated training for mothers to strengthen parent-child communication on sensitive topics such as puberty, menstrual health and healthy relationships, enabling them to better support their daughters.
An expert-led session with the head nurse of the Main Family Medicine Centre gave participants direct insight into how to file and follow up on complaints. 24 women asked practical questions about the steps involved, the expected timeline for responses and the kinds of issues that fall within the Centre’s responsibilities. As a result, participants began to see complaint mechanisms not as bureaucratic obstacles, but as useful tools to claim their rights.
From Awareness to Engagement
Through guided visits to the Main Family Medicine Centre’s counselling services, participants had the opportunity to see first-hand the spaces and professionals available to them. Over the course of these visits, 22 women learned about services for family planning, pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care, and could discuss with staff the adaptations available for women with mobility or sensory impairments. Many participants noted that simply knowing what the facilities looked like, where to go, and who to speak to would make them more confident in seeking services in the future.
The trainings did not only provide participants with knowledge but also offered a safe space where they could share personal experiences, fostering solidarity and mutual support. Following the trainings, participants reported a significant boost in confidence. They felt more prepared to attend medical appointments independently, ask questions, and insist on their rights. Some even began sharing their new knowledge with peers in their communities, multiplying the initiative’s impact beyond its direct participants.
Handikos Mitrovica also engaged with local stakeholders to raise awareness about the specific barriers faced by women with disabilities. This dialogue opened pathways for future cooperation with municipal authorities on improving service accessibility, both in terms of physical infrastructure and provider sensitivity.
Lasting Change for Dignity and Equality
By focusing on an often-overlooked group, the initiative broke silences and challenged stereotypes, proving that disability inclusion is an essential dimension of gender equality. It showed that when women with disabilities are informed and empowered, they can take control of their health and demand the respect they deserve. Handikos Mitrovica’s initiative represents a step towards a society where all women, regardless of ability, can live with dignity, equality and autonomy.
Handikos Mitrovica’s initiative “Empowerment of women and girls with disabilities: A comprehensive approach to reproductive health” was carried out with support from the Kosovo Women’s Network’s Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), in the amount of €5,000, from June to August 2023. The initiative contributed directly to KWN’s Programme “Right to Health”.
