Meeting Princess Mabel in Rwanda

Three young disability justice activists from the Make Way Youth panels met Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau at Women Deliver 2023. Women Deliver is the largest conference on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights and was being held in Rwanda end of July.

Two advisors on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) from Liliane Fonds, Laura Honders and Srushti Mahamuni, with the help of our Youth Delegation, hosted sessions during the conference on the importance of SRHR for young people with disabilities. But there was also room for special encounters. For example, three members of our youth delegation, Kelvin, Ice en Vilda, spoke with Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau. She was there to represent her organization Girls not Brides. In the conversation with the Princess, they emphasized the importance of SRHR for young people with disabilities. They talked about intersectionality and told her that youth with disabilities should be involved in developing programmes and policies because they themselves are best qualified to indicate their needs. It is important to see young people with disabilities for who they are as whole human beings and not only their disabilities.

Read more about our activities at Women Deliver 2023 (in Dutch)