Final Evaluation: A life of dignity and freedom from violence for girls and women with disabilities in Lima, Cusco and San Martin – Peru

Location: Peru 

Grantee: Paz Y Esperanza 

Grant period: 1 October 2019 – 30 September 2022 

Grant amount: USD 950,000 

Authors/editors: Sofia Macher; María Eugenia Moyano; Cristina Verano; Mario Morales 

Publication year: 2022 

 Paz Y Esperanza (Peace and Hope) implemented the three-year project “A life of dignity and freedom from violence for girls and women with disabilities in Lima, Cusco and San Martin” in Peru with the support of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women from 2019 to 2022. The project aimed to: 

• prevent and end violence against women and girls with disabilities by increasing the knowledge and visibility of their rights and improving the quality of and access to multi-sectoral, disability-inclusive services; 
• empower with knowledge of their rights women and girls with disabilities, and their caregivers; 
• engage women and girls with disabilities in the design and implementation of strategies, actions and public policies aimed to prevent and reduce domestic, sexual and institutional violence; and 
• capacitate protection officials and civil servants to provide accessible and inclusive services utilizing an intersectional, rights-based approach.  

The final evaluation revealed that women and girls with disabilities gained greater autonomy and confidence to report incidents of violence, seek help from the protection system, and participate in public decision-making, dialogue and advocacy.  

Main findings of the evaluation: 

• The project resulted in women with disabilities gaining greater knowledge of their rights and the protection framework, having a greater willingness to participate in dissemination activities, and acquiring a perception of having an independent life. 
• 2,020 women with disabilities, 500 girls with disabilities and 500 family caregivers gained knowledge on physical, psychological, economic and sexual violence, and had improved ability to identify violence, guide other women and seek assistance from the protection system. 
• 110 women with disabilities were empowered as agents of change by participating in political advocacy activities to demand their right to live free from violence. 
• 1,480 government officials, civil servants and protection officials, including police officers, judges, prosecutors, members of women’s emergency centres, had strengthened capacity to understand and identify the social barriers and risk factors faced by women with disabilities, allowing them to adjust their care and response mechanisms.