The theme of International Women's Day centers on For ALL Women where inclusivity and equality are championed, ensuring that every woman's voice is heard and valued. To mark International Women's Day, we bring you a story from Lao People's Democratic Republic where Seevue Xaykia serves as an Inclusion Specialist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She is the first UN Volunteer from the Hmong community.
“As a Hmong woman with a physical disability, meaningful participation has been one of my major barriers,” Seevue says. She supports the UNDP Disability Inclusion portfolio in its work with the Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, and actively promotes raising awareness on leaving no one behind.
UNDP Disability Inclusion portfolio has supported 11 Organizations of Persons with Disabilities to prepare and submit their first-ever joint Parallel Report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Seevue also supports Lao PDR's national Committee on persons with disabilities. This multi-stakeholder consultation process for national action implements recommendations on integrating policies.
UN Volunteer assignments, such as Seevue's, help to bring challenges facing persons with disabilities to the fore—propelling a further debate on analyzing disability data and the lived experiences of thousands of persons with disabilities on their barriers in society.
Nothing about us without us—Seevue Xaykia's volunteer work is a powerful reminder of the need to enhance policies that ensure inclusivity for all, everywhere.