The launch of the Photovoice study and the opening of the accompanying photography exhibition “My Lens My Reality – on the rights of women with disabilities” took place on March 8, 2022, International Women’s Day. While the study was launched in the format of an online event with about 80 participants, the exhibition could be opened in a small setting at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. This was particularly relevant as the review of Switzerland to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities took place during the same period.

The two opening speeches were given by Ambassador Félix Baumann, Head of Multilateral Division at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, which also co-sponsored the event, and by Mirjam Gasser, Head Advocacy of CBM Switzerland.

“The exhibition ‘My Lens My Reality’ and the study on which it is based make an important contribution of showing the reality of women with disabilities. Above all it is in line with the UN-Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, because it is women with disabilities who document themselves their situation, who make visible the obstacles they face.”, Ambassador Baumann said and honoured the work.

The study was commissioned by the SDDC in collaboration with four partner organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in Nepal.

Summary video of Geneva launch: