About the study

Worldwide rates of violence against women with disabilities are up to four times higher than  those against women without disabilities (Van Der Heijden et.al, 2019). Despite disability affecting 16% of the world’s population, efforts to research, prevent and respond to this form of violence rarely address violence against women with disabilities. Recent review of research on violence against women and girls with disabilities highlighted the dearth of data and the methodological barriers to developing a robust evidence base on violence against women with disabilities (Banks et.al., 2022;  Palm & Le Roux, 2023). Without fully understanding how women with disabilities experience violence and the barriers that they encounter when reporting and seeking support, existing interventions will fail to prevent abuse. This project explores violence against women with disabilities in eThekwini, KwaZulu Natal (KZN), South Africa. South Africa has one of the highest levels of violence against women outside war zones, and KZN-province is where this violence is most endemic. This project uses co-creation and arts-based approaches to better understand and respond to the needs of women with disabilities who have experienced violence. The research is conducted in collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council and organisations for persons with disabilities in South Africa to ensure that women with disabilities are at the centre of this study.

This innovative project harnesses co-creation and arts-based approaches to better understand and address the needs of women with disabilities who have experienced violence. Conducted in collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council and leading disability organizations, this research ensures that women with disabilities are at the heart of the study.

Follow our project in this transformative journey to make a meaningful impact on the lives of women with disabilities. Together, we can create a safer, more inclusive world for women with disabilities.