Addressing the Human Rights Council’s 58th session, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, highlighted the persistent accessibility issues confronting people with disabilities, with particular challenges faced by women. Türk criticized the international community’s failure to fulfill the commitments of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which emphasizes the equal birthrights of all people.
Türk identified that technology not only erects new barriers for discrimination but also frequently excludes those with disabilities from participating in tech design conversations. Specifically, the UN rights chief noted the minimal involvement of people with disabilities in developing e-governance programs, which are vital for connecting citizens with essential services like healthcare and voting.
A staggering statistic revealed by Türk showed that only 2% of the 2 billion worldwide websites are universally accessible, severely limiting access to information for people with disabilities. This lack of accessibility disproportionately affects women with disabilities due to a broader issue in technology design predominantly influenced by men. The consequences of this are visible in a 2:1 gender gap in internet access favoring men with disabilities over women.
Türk drew attention to the historical oversight in both website accessibility and physical assistive technology, asserting that prostheses and orthoses are often designed without consideration for female anatomy. Such oversight contributes to the inequities women with disabilities face online and in daily life.
In his concluding remarks, Türk called for concerted societal and individual efforts focusing on those most in need, particularly emphasizing the importance of advancing women’s accessibility and economic reforms. He also urged full ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to safeguard comprehensive rights for people with disabilities.
Globally, human rights groups continue to highlight these accessibility shortfalls, evidenced by legal actions in countries like the US, Kazakhstan, and Uruguay. Among the pressing issues are the forced sterilization practices of women with disabilities across Europe and the continued struggle for adequate reproductive health rights highlighted by organizations seeking justice for affected populations.