As the world marks International Women’s Day 2026, the Beyond Limit Initiative for Women and Girls with Disabilities has called for stronger systemic reforms to ensure full inclusion, protection, and empowerment of women with disabilities.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the non-governmental organization urged governments, institutions, and community stakeholders to move beyond symbolic celebrations and implement concrete frameworks that guarantee the rights and economic autonomy of women and girls with disabilities.
The statement, themed “Count Us In: Breaking Barriers. Beyond Limit,” emphasizes that gender equality cannot be achieved while women with disabilities continue to face what the organization describes as “double discrimination” — gender bias combined with ableism.
According to the organization, structural barriers still prevent many women with disabilities from accessing education, employment opportunities, healthcare services, and justice systems. Speaking in the statement, the Executive Director of the foundation, Oluwatomisin Adeyefa Olatayo, said the goal of the organization is to create a society where environmental and systemic barriers are removed so women with disabilities can fully participate in social and economic life.
“International Women’s Day is a reminder that our mission is to ensure that the environment, not the individual, is what changes,” she said. “Our goal is to build a society where the potential of every girl and woman with a disability is recognized as a fundamental asset to our collective progress.”
The organization outlined several strategic priorities for 2026, including socio-economic empowerment, protection against gender-based violence, inclusive governance, and improved access to reproductive healthcare. Under its socio-economic empowerment agenda, the foundation pledged to expand initiatives that provide women with disabilities access to vocational training, financial literacy programs, and equitable employment opportunities.
The group also highlighted the need to address gender-based violence, noting that women and girls with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. It called for accessible justice systems and specialized support services, including protection against digital exploitation. In addition, the foundation urged government agencies and the private sector to adopt inclusive policies that ensure women with disabilities participate directly in decision-making processes affecting their lives, aligning with the disability rights principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
The initiative also reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for accessible healthcare and reproductive rights, emphasizing that women with disabilities must have the autonomy to make informed decisions about their reproductive health without coercion or systemic neglect.
The Beyond Limit Initiative further encouraged development partners, civil society organizations, and community leaders to support policies and programs that promote the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities. Based in Ogun State, the Beyond Limit Initiative for Women and Girls with Disabilities is a registered non-governmental organization focused on advocacy, capacity building, and strategic interventions aimed at ensuring equitable access to education, economic opportunities, and social protection for women and girls living with disabilities.
