International Day of Non-Violence: Combating Violence Against Deaf Women
Featured Updated: 02 October 2025 11:34 EAT
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October 2nd marks the International Day of Non-Violence, a day dedicated to disseminating Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy and strategy of peace, tolerance, and understanding.
While this global commemoration calls on all of us to secure a culture of non-violence, it also compels us to look inward and ask a crucial question: How do we actively avoid violence against Persons with Disabilities, particularly those whose voices are often unheard?
For Deaf women, the struggle for visibility and freedom from violence is deeply personal and pervasive. The insights of Aska Josephine, the Director Federation of Deaf Women in Kenya (FEDWEN), paint a vivid picture of this reality.
Before forming FEDWEN, Aska’s role as a regional coordinator for the Kenya National Association for the Deaf, she encountered painful experiences where Deaf women were invisible.
This invisibility meant they were excluded from crucial policy-making platforms, leaving them unheard and unseen.
Aska recognized that this marginalization was directly linked to the violence Deaf women experienced, both in their homes and in society at large.
The initial challenge she faced was breaking through a male-dominated environment that treated the status quo as the "norm." This frustrating barrier fueled her resolve to create a platform for justice, a movement that would eventually become FEDWEN.
Aska describes the life of a Deaf woman as an uphill battle beginning in their own household. They often grow up undervalued and uninformed, stripped of access to basic life skills and their rights as women.
At home, they are often relegated to the role of an unappreciated servant. Lacking access to critical information, they become more vulnerable to situations that could endanger them. This vulnerability extends into relationships, where many Deaf women are tragically viewed as a burden.
They find themselves in circumstances where partners or peers feel they are "doing them a favor" simply by being with them, a dehumanizing dynamic that fosters imbalance and exploitation.
To combat this entrenched violence and marginalization, FEDWEN has developed a multi-pronged approach focused on empowerment, primarily targeting women aged 13 to 25.
Aska considers this age range most pivotal for instilling confidence and essential life skills. FEDWEN’s mandate addresses key areas that directly impact a Deaf woman’s safety and autonomy, including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Economic Empowerment, and Governance.
Currently working with six schools, FEDWEN has established clubs to directly engage and mentor young women.
A critical part of their strategy involves teaching practical, income-generating skills such as beading, which helps these young women create a sustainable income and reduce their financial dependence, a common precursor to violence and exploitation.
The commitment of FEDWEN serves as a powerful testament to the idea that non-violence isn't just an absence of conflict, but the active creation of a world where every person, regardless of ability, is valued, informed, and empowered to access their rights.
Their work reminds us that achieving a true "culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence," as envisioned by the UN resolution, demands that we amplify the voices that have been silenced for too long. The fight for non-violence is a daily commitment to justice and equity.
Tags: Aska Josephine Editor's Pick FEDWEN Signstvkenya The Deaf
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Selestine Nyongesa
Experienced and versatile writer, dedicated to using my exceptional writing and editing skills to inform and advocate. My work focuses on educating and entertaining readers on a range of topics, with a particular expertise in matters of disability.