Technology and Sport: Two Strong Tools to Help Empower and Include Women with Disabilities

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) participated in a ceremony entitled “Technology and Sport: Two Strong Tools to Help Empower and Include Women with Disabilities.” This event, held at the Hotel Karibe in Port-au-Prince, ahead of the celebration of International Women’s Day, featured prominent Haitian women with disabilities, including the Haitian women’s amputee soccer team.

Some of the activities highlighted in the ceremony are part of the “Yon kominote pou nou tout” (meaning “A shared community for all”) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Haitian NGO enpaK. The goal of this activity is to prevent the segregation and isolation of persons with disabilities, facilitate their access to community facilities, and help the Government of Haiti to implement laws that protect PWDs.

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The Director of the USAID’s Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, Mr. Erik Pacific stated, “For USAID, respect for women’s rights is not limited to March 8^th. It is a daily fight because, like Haiti, we see women’s rights as human rights. This is why USAID supports Haitian organizations, such as enpaK (to protect the rights of marginalized communities).  Our joint work onthe project “Yon Kominote Pou Nou Tout” (which means “A shared community for all”) strengthens the capacity of local organizations of people with disabilities, including two organizations exclusively dedicated to women with disabilities, so that they are equipped to advocate for the respect of their rights.” The panel of speakers also included the Minister of Women’s Status and Rights, Ms. Sofia Loréus, the Deputy Executive Director of enpak, Ms. Andrinette Cadet and the Executive Director of the Haitian Association of Amputee Soccer, Ms. Marie Sophonie Louis.