In August 2018, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) interviewed participants of its Power to Persuade: Empowering Women with Disabilities to Influence Public Policy program in Nepal. English transcripts of the interviews are available below and have been edited for clarity.
The videos can be viewed at this link.
Interviewer: What is your name, and from where are you?
Luitel: My name is Bidhya Luitel. I am from Morang district.
Intereviewer: What type of disability do you have?
Luitel: I have physical disability of my right hand.
Interviewer: How did you get to know about disability sector and its movement?
Luitel: I am informed about disability through NDWA in 2011. NDWA has created a group of about eight women with disabilities. Each month we deposit some funds, which we then use to engage in livestock farming and sewing activities.
Interviewer: Did you have any experience with advocacy before this training?
Luitel: No, I haven’t been involved in advocacy activities before.
Interviewer: What parts of the training were most useful to you?
Luitel: I am happy to learn about how to conduct advocacy. Before, I had only heard about advocacy, but had the chance to be involved in advocacy activities and did not know the different ways to do advocacy. Through this training, I have learned different tips and tactics of advocacy which has inspired me to become a more active and effective leader in the future.
Interviewer: The main objective of this training is to develop leadership capacity of women with disabilities so that women with disabilities feel empowered to as political leaders and disability activists. In one session, we discussed barriers that women with disabilities face in Nepal. Would you like to share any specific barriers you have faced?
Luitel: I faced lots of challenges while I was studying. My family thought there was no point of studying, as my disability will always create obstacles for me, even to lead my everyday life. However, despite no encouragement from my family, I finished my Bachelor's degree. Another barrier I am facing now is that some organizations do not want to recruit persons with disabilities, saying my disability would interfere with my works and that persons with disabilities should be working with DPOs only.
Interviewer: What is your name, and from where are you?
Chaudhary: My name is Bhudani Chaudhary. I am from Kanchanpur district.
Interviewer: What type of disability do you have?
Chaudhary: I have a physical disability in my right leg.
Interviewer: How long have you been involved in the disability community?
Chaudhary: I have known about the disability advocacy movement since I was in grade nine, but I have been regularly involved in the disability sector for six years now.
Interviewer: How has being part of the disability community affected your life?
Chaudhary: Before, I did not know about the rights of persons with disabilities, but now I use my own experiences, along with others, to support women with disabilities so they don’t face the same challenges I did. Being part of the disability community has been very empowering, and I am happy to be able to contribute to the disability movement.
Interviewer: The main objective of this training is to develop leadership capacity of women with disabilities so that women with disabilities feel empowered as political leaders and disability activists. In one session, we discussed barriers that women with disabilities face in Nepal. Would you like to share any specific barriers you have faced?
Chaudhary: I am from an indigenous family. Before me, there were no women in my family who attended school and even my brother's left school after 6th and 7th grade. While I was studying, I stopped going to school for a few years. I felt that my teachers and friends did not accept me for who I am and I could sense their negativity towards me, but my family was supportive of me, so I continued my studies at their encouragement and am currently pursuing my Master's degree.
Things have changed a lot now; community perception has changed. They view my activism and involvement in the disability community positively and now I am an example to my community.
Interviewer: Adding to your remarks that you are an example to your community, do you think that this type of training and the following advocacy activities will boost your leadership capacity?
Chaudhary: I am sure the training will do that - I have learned lot of things from the training this week. I have learned different methods of advocacy which has encouraged as well as boosted my self-confidence to become a more effective leader in the future.
Interviewer: Could you please tell us your disability type?
Parajuli: I have a physical disability in my right hand.
Interviewer: As a woman with a disability, have you ever faced or tackled any types of institutional or community barriers you would like to share with us?
Parajuli: When I was child, I had low self-esteem because there were no persons with disabilities around me, but my parents were so supportive of me - they told me I could to do anything that I wanted to do - so I think today, I am here because of their support and encouragement.
I am also facing attitudinal barriers from my community, which cannot be changed within a short period of time. For example, I am free to expose my hand here because I have friends with different types disability, but sometimes in my community I feel uncomfortable because I think they do not see my disability in a positive way. I have faced a lot of uncomfortable questions from my community, such as people asking why my hand is like this, how did it happen, and so forth.
Interviewer: Do you think advocacy is important to tackle the different barriers?
Parajuli: Advocacy is very important. I used to think I was alone with my disability, but when I became connected to this group, I met many women who are actively involved in their communities. I had a chance to be involved in Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) training (a training specifically for persons with disabilities to empower them to actively participate in their communities), which helped me to get rid of my lack of confidence about my own disability. I used to hide my disability from others, but now I am much more confident.
I think advocacy activities encourage us to move forward. When persons with disabilities come together they become stronger and more confident as individuals.
Interviewer: Do you think that this advocacy capacity-building program will help you to become a leader?
Parajuli: Yes, I am very happy with this program – I feel now that I can support other women with disabilities. Being a person with a disability, I can influence others to be more proactive and empower them to be advocates as well.
Interviewer: For how long have you been involved the disability movement?
Bhatta: For four years.
Interviewer: As a woman with a disability, have you ever faced or tackled any types of institutional or community barriers you would like to share with us?
Bhatta: I face difficulties in travelling long distances and in walking upstairs. I always face barriers with the current infrastructure. Even the ladder in my house is not accommodating of my size. I am not sufficiently supported while riding the bus, using light switches, locking toilets and many other everyday tasks.
Interviewer: Have you done anything to make other people aware of disability rights?
Bhatta: Whenever I ride local buses, I advocate for myself. I will tell passengers that this is a disability seat, and it must be given to persons with disabilities.
Interviewer: Has this training been helpful for you?
Bhatta: Yes, this has been helpful. I have learned many new things.
Interviewer: Do you have any interest in politics?
Bhatta: Yes, I expect political party leaders must prioritize the needs of persons with disabilities.
Interviewer: In last elections, did you vote?
Bhatta: Yes, I did.
Interviewer: Did you face any difficulties while voting?
Bhatta: No, because there is separate arrangement for persons with disabilities. We don’t have to wait in line.
Interviewer: Do you think this policy was a good initiative from the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) and do you think that these types of accommodations should be encouraged?
Bhatta: This type of policy will definitely encourage us to move continue with our advocacy.