The “16 days” campaign – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

03 12 2025

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an opportunity to remind people of the rights, needs and empowerment of millions of people in Poland and around the world. Indeed, violence against persons with disabilities remains one of the most hidden, least reported and least prosecuted types of violence.

This includes physical violence, sexual violence, economic violence, psychological violence, neglect and specific forms resulting from dependence on caregivers, institutions or support systems. Economic, housing and physical dependency can make violence more difficult to disclose and prove, and disability makes it more difficult to report violations and get help.

Women with disabilities experience violence up to 40% more often than women without disabilities, and are up to ten times more likely to be victims of sexual violence [1]. At the same time, they access institutional support less frequently and it is less effective [2]. Studies indicate that up to 83% of women with intellectual disabilities experience sexual violence in their lifetime [3].

In September of 2012, Poland has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which includes Article 16 of the state obligation to protect against all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, both within the family and in institutions. However, people with disabilities in Poland still face barriers to reporting violence.

Violence is a structural phenomenon and affects most severely those who are at the intersection of discrimination, so it is worth bearing in mind the additional difficulties and dangers faced by people with disabilities.

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we particularly emphasise the importance of accessibility, subjectivity and the right to safety. Eliminating violence requires sound education and accessible reporting procedures. It is also a commitment for educational institutions – including the University of Warsaw – to create spaces that are fully safe, inclusive and free from violence.

At the University of Warsaw, the Office for Persons with Disabilities specializes in this area, ensuring architectural and digital accessibility for the entire university community. The Office is currently implementing the “Accessibility-Aware – University of Equal Opportunities” project, which aims to increase accessibility to education at the University of Warsaw, address the specific needs of working with people with special needs, remove architectural and digital barriers, and raise awareness of disabilities within the university community.

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A reminder of reliable resources and where to find help:

Integracja Foundation working to improve the living standards of people with disabilities

Autonomia Foundation supporting women experiencing discrimination based on gender and other grounds, including disability

Feminoteka Foundation supporting women experiencing violence, providing free legal, psychological and therapeutic assistance

Anti-violence helpline for women 888 88 33 88 free, confidential and specialist assistance from Feminoteka Foundation experts, offered to women who have experienced violence

Information on support institutions at the University of Warsaw can be found here.

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[1] WHO, World report on disability, 2011; WHO/UN Women, Violence against women with disabilities, 2021.

[2] FRA, Violence against women: 2023 survey, 2023.

[3] NCD, Not on the Radar: Sexual Assault of Women with Disabilities, 2018.