Accessing Justice: Exploitation and Trafficking in Women with Disabilities.

Enable Education recently hosted a webinar titled “Accessing Justice: Exploitation and Trafficking in Women with Disabilities.” Held virtually on Google Meet, the session featured the esteemed Ms. Srinidhi Raghavan, a disabled feminist, educator, writer, and researcher. Mr. Samarth Pathak, Communications & Advocacy Lead (South Asia) and Regional Focal Point (Education and Youth), served as the Chief Guest. The session was moderated by Ms. Aarushi Gambhir, Founder of Enable Education and Disability Inclusion Strategist.

Ms. Srinidhi Raghavan, the keynote speaker, brings over 14 years of experience at the intersection of gender, sexuality, disability, and technology. She leads programs at Rising Flame and has been published both nationally and internationally. She also authors Bodies and Minds, a FirstPost column exploring gender and disability, and supports adolescents, parents, and educators through her work at The Learning Centre, Moira.

The webinar commenced with a powerful keynote by Mr. Samarth Pathak, who emphasized the urgent need to raise awareness about violence and trafficking affecting women with disabilities. He stressed that real impact begins with building accessible, compassionate, and just communities. Ms. Srinidhi then initiated a compelling discussion, shedding light on the various forms of violence that women with disabilities endure, and the magnified effects of disability on such experiences. She unpacked the layered dehumanisation that disabled women often face and highlighted how, in many cases, repeated acts of violence are endured due to the absence of accessible pathways to justice. The lack of reliable data further exacerbates the issue.

Addressing specific issues in India and the Global South, Ms. Srinidhi drew attention to disparities and severe injustices such as forced begging and labor, sexual exploitation (even by caregivers), and involuntary surrogacy. These underscore the urgency of addressing consent violations in a more nuanced and sensitised manner. She also pointed out the dire lack of resources and awareness. For instance, India’s disability pension—just ₹300 per month—is woefully inadequate for basic survival.

Discussing the role of disability rights organizations and international bodies, Ms. Srinidhi highlighted the relevance of UNCRPD and CEDAW, which specifically address the compounded discrimination faced by women with disabilities. She noted a troubling societal duality: the desire to protect disabled women often results in restricting their mobility and autonomy, which, in turn, limits their learning and growth. According to Ms. Srinidhi, initiating change begins with understanding the full scope of disability and its varied forms. The next step is the development of an inclusive regulatory framework that prioritizes resource sharing, rehabilitation, and reintegration of survivors. Public awareness campaigns can further alleviate common challenges faced by victims—especially social isolation and lack of information about where to seek help.

In her concluding remarks, Ms. Srinidhi proposed a three-tier systemic intervention. First, she emphasised the need to bridge the evidence gap by collecting reliable data, which would serve as a foundation for targeted and effective policymaking. Second, she called for a strong and responsive support system—comprising trained professionals, accessible infrastructure, and resource availability to address the unique needs of victims. Finally, she advocated for a collaborative effort across various ministerial departments to harmonize and implement disability laws in a cohesive and integrated manner.

Ms. Aarushi Gambhir closed the event with a heartfelt note of thanks to the speakers, attendees, and partners who contributed to the success of the session. The webinar served as a powerful platform to amplify the voices of women with disabilities, challenge both ableism and gender-based violence, and advocate for a future that is safer, more inclusive, and equitable for all.