UNACKNOWLEDGED REALITIES: THE CHALLENGES FACED BY DEAF WOMEN IN ADDRESSING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN UGANDA
Abstract
Background: Global estimates suggest that a significant proportion of women with disabilities live in conditions of economic deprivation and face compounded discrimination compared to both men with disabilities and women without disabilities.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to understand the challenges faced by deaf women in addressing gender-based violence in Kampala district.
Method: The study used qualitative research of an intrinsic case study design utilising semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 30 deaf women in Kampala district and 8 key informants from state and non-state entities to understand this topic.
Results: Findings revealed communication barriers at police stations, courts of law, and local council offices, a lack of preventive programmes and coordination among deaf women, a lack of counsellors to provide comprehensive support to achieve social inclusion, a lack of sign language interpreters, and a low level of knowledge on GBV, possibly due to limited information.
Conclusion: Despite Uganda’s legal and policy frameworks on GBV, deaf women’s linguistic needs have yet to be incorporated into GBV dissemination and promotion efforts. Therefore, the integration of Deaf epistemology into current policies is necessary to steer GBV prevention and awareness efforts among deaf women.
Keywords: Deaf women; Challenges; Gender-Based Violence; Sign language, Kampala, Uganda.
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