From DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.orgWed Sep 6 16:02:55 1995 Date: Tue, 05 Sep 1995 14:35:00 +0100 From: Debra Guzman Reply to: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org To: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org Subject: CODEHUCA: Beijing 5 ingles [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] ## author : codehuca@nicarao.apc.org ## date : 04.09.95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CODEHUCA'S INFORMATION ON BEIJING, CHINA NO. 5 Sunday, September 3, 1995 Petrona Sandoval, of the Association of Nicaraguan Women with Disabilities, reported that the issue of women with disabilities is frequently silenced. She stated that women with disabilities encountered numerous obstacles in coming to China. For example, Immigration officials at the airport were incapable to arrange the paperwork of one of the delegation's representatives who arrived in a wheelchair. In other examples, women using wheelchairs or other adaptive mobi- lity devices were expected to use escalators. Difficulties conti- nued as they were given of the furthest tents from the entrance which is nearly inaccesible due to the mud. Such continued difficulties underline one of the largest ongoing challenges faced by people with disabilities: access for all is not available and almost impossible at times. The result is a virtual quagmire for women with disabilities. Such incidences demonstrate a grave violation of their rights and demand appro- priate response. Veronica Chavarria offered her opinion on this situation. She is a Nicaraguan woman who has a visual disability, and is a member of the Autonomous Commission of Blind Women of Nicaragua which has sites in Esteli, Chinandega, Carazo, Managua, Puerto Cabezas and Jinotega. Ms. Chavarria asserted that "despite difficulties, it has been our challenge to come here and give testimony on our accomplishments as well as our difficulties. Similarly, we ex- pect to receive the solidarity of the women participating in the NGO forum and the Official Conference to bring increased visibi- lity to the issue". In the opinion of the participants, these international forums are a positive step. For example, since the Human Rights Confe- rence in Vienna, the Human Rights of Women have been recognized. Through the incorporation of these rights, the international com- munity has made a committment to channel resources for integral education and training. In order to make development of an inde- pendent and dignified life possible for women. Nicaraguan women consider that one of the major problems they face in their own country is the closure of the Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, which was closed by the government. Petrona Sandoval asserted that the Health Ministry of Nicaragua is restricting the rights of women with disabilities to have children. This situation is worsened for women who need surgical intervention because local anesthesia is used which only serves to worsen their mobility problems. The following are addresses for those interested in the area of disability in Nicaragua: Ver"nica Chavarr!a, Barrio Altagracia, de la Fosforera, tres cuadras al Sur, setenta y cinco varas arriba, Managua, Nicaragua, telfono 667425; Petrona Sandoval, Asociaci"n de Mujeres Discapa- citadas de Le"n, Las Golondrinas, frente al costado oeste de San Sebasti n, Le"n Nicaragua.