Our Participation in the 79th Session of the Committee on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights


The 79th Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is being held from 9th to 25th February 2026 at Palais Wilson in Geneva. From 9th to 10th February, with the support of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), Elizabeth Mang’eni had the privilege of representing the Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities (the Network) during this session.

This has been the culmination of a two-year process, during which, together with the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), we have engaged in an advocacy process that has enabled us to connect our local and national-level advocacy with global advocacy.Please read more about this process here:https://advocacynetwork.blogspot.com/2023/03/how-we-are-using-un-human-rights.html. 


As a Network, we are honoured that we could get to present issues affecting women and girls with disabilities at this global platform. 


On the first day, the team of Elizabeth, together with Sarah Muthoni and Maryanne Emomeri, who represented UDPK, delivered an oral statement, focusing specifically on the rights and realities of women and girls with disabilities. Other Kenyan organizations also presented their submissions to the Committee in a hybrid format. The team later attended the State’s dialogue session, where government representatives responded to issues raised by the Committee.


During the engagement, the team referenced some of the List of Issues that the Network and UDPK submitted in 2023 and provided an oral update, including reflections on the recently enacted Persons with Disabilities Act, which was signed into Law in 2025.


Here are some key Issues Raised in the Oral Statement

  • Lack of Disaggregated Data - The 2019 Census reported that 2.2% (0.9 million) of Kenyans have disabilities, with women forming the majority (523,184). Disability prevalence was underreported. The absence of reliable, disaggregated data continues to weaken evidence-based planning and marginalize disability inclusion in national development priorities.

  • Gap Between Law and Implementation - While the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, establishes a strong rights-based framework, implementation remains weak. Affirmative action and economic empowerment programmes lack data to demonstrate whether women with disabilities are benefiting meaningfully.

  • Limited Social Protection and Independent Living - Social protection schemes, such as the Persons with Severe Disability Cash Transfer, have limited coverage and insufficient financial support. 

  • Exclusion from Decision-Making - Women with disabilities face barriers to meaningful participation in governance processes due to inaccessible information and limited institutional support.

  • Barriers in Education - Girls with disabilities continue to experience low enrolment, high dropout rates, inaccessible infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, inadequate learning materials, and insufficient capitation to meet needs.

  • Gender-Based Violence and Access to Justice - Despite legal protections, women and girls with disabilities continue to face high levels of gender-based violence and exploitation. Access to justice is hindered by negative attitudes among law enforcement officers and a lack of procedural accommodations. 

  • Healthcare Barriers - Healthcare services remain inaccessible, with limited disability-responsive training among providers and serious concerns regarding violations of informed consent, especially among women with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.


What else did the Team do?


The team attended a session where the Czech Republic presented before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee). “We noted that many of the issues raised were similar to those faced in Kenya. As women with disabilities, we previously submitted a List of Issues to the CEDAW Committee in 2017. While progress has been slow, we remain hopeful that sustained advocacy will lead to meaningful change,” reflected Elizabeth.




The team had the opportunity to meet Stefan Tromel, a Senior Disability Specialist at the International Labour Organization in Geneva.





They also met with Marytina Balciunaite from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from the Human Rights & Disability Unit, in Geneva, where they discussed several disability-related concerns in Kenya and explored potential areas for continued engagement.



At the Network level, we look forward to the CESCR Committee’s concluding observations and hope that the issues we raised will be reflected in its recommendations to the Government of Kenya. 


We remain grateful to all other partners who have walked with us in this process. 

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