Bridging the Gap celebrates its annual event in Rome

This year’s event, focused on the challenges of women and girls with disabilities in low and middle income countries, received the collaboration of the European Union (EU) representative in Italy and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

The opening ceremony was chaired by Vito Borrelli, EU representative; Luca Maestripieri, director of AICS; by Germán García Da Rosa, of FIIAPP; the EU delegation to the Holy See; the Order of Malta; United Nations organisations in Rome and the Republic of San Marino; OHCHR of the United Nations; and the Italian Network for Disability and Development (RISD).

Vito Borrelli highlighted the promotion of gender equality as one of the transversal axes of EU action and indicated the five priorities that mark the strategy in this area as being equal economic independence; the same remuneration for work of equal value; equality in decision-making power; dignity and the end of gender violence; and the promotion of gender equality beyond the European Union.

For his part, Germán García Da Rosa , director of the area of public administration and social affairs of FIIAPP highlighted the work of the Bridging the Gap project and celebrated the FIIAPP’s recent accession to the Global Disability Action Network (GLAD), together with AECID and the ONCE Foundation for Latin America; which will strengthen the work of the Spanish administration in the inclusion of people with disabilities. He also pointed out the importance of the work of FIIAPP in achieving the sustainable development goals, leaving no one behind, including the most vulnerable groups such as women and children with disabilities.

The main topics discussed during the two round tables revolved around the inclusion and empowerment of women with disabilities, especially in low and middle income countries; female leadership; as well as the exchange of experiences to eliminate the barriers to the economic and social empowerment of women and girls with disabilities.

The panelists, guided by international regulations established on the basis of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), exchanged knowledge and good practices generating intense debate with the audience.

About Bridging the Gap

Bridging the Gap is a global, EU-funded initiative that aims to contribute to the socio-economic inclusion, equality and non-discrimination of people with disabilities in low and middle-income countries through institutions and policies which are more inclusive and responsible. This global initiative is implemented by a Consortium led by FIIAPP and composed of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID), the European Disability Forum (EDF) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC). The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland also contribute to the initiative. The beneficiary countries of the initiative are Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Paraguay and the Sudan.