Interview with Dwi Ariyani, from the Disability Rights Fund
Around the world, 1 in 6 people live with a disability, representing 16% of the world’s population. Women with disabilities—1 in 5 globally—are disproportionately affected by multiple forms of violence and exclusion. Care is essential to the lives of these individuals, not only in practical terms related to accessibility and daily activities, but also in terms of dignity, autonomy, and independence. Care enables people with disabilities to live a full life, just like anyone else. And domestic workers play a crucial role in providing this vital care.
In this interview, Dwi Ariyani, the Acting Co-Director of Programs for the Disability Rights Fund, shares her insights on care and support from an inclusive perspective that places the rights, needs, and contributions of both persons with disabilities and caregivers at the center of the care economy. Dwi is a disability rights activist who has been working for over twenty years in Indonesia, providing organizations of persons with disabilities with financial and technical support to empower them in advocating for equal rights and full societal participation. In 2020, she received the “Women of Distinction Award” from the NGO Committee on the Status of Woman in New York.
According to Dwi, “care policies should take a holistic approach that respects the rights of both caregivers and care recipients. There is no justice for those who receive care without justice for those who provide it.”
