Interview with Rosa Aldana Salguero for the International day of persons with disabilities
On the 3rd of December, we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and we could not fail to talk about the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), an international human rights treaty of the United Nations that aims to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
The implementation by the States parties member of this Convention is monitored by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a body of independent experts in Geneva (Switzerland) and part of the United Nations.
Politics4HerEurope has had the honour to talk with Dr. Rosa Aldana Salguero, one of the experts and member of the CRPD. Rosa is a woman with a disability called achondroplasia, a rare condition that occurs in 1 of 10,000 births. She is a charismatic and determined woman with a long trajectory in the fight for the rights of persons with disabilities and human rights, especially in regard to the rights of women and girls with disabilities and the rights of people of short stature.
Originally from Guatemala, she specialised in the field of gender equality in Spain and is an active advocate for women with disabilities in several organisations, having accomplished great achievements in this area, with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and women’s rights.
Rosa, what made you a feminist?
“I dare to say that I do not categorise myself as a feminist, but my actions are feminist and I actively support the movement. I didn't feel part of the feminist movement as I didn't see women with disabilities represented in it. How could I be able to identify myself as a feminist if I didn't see myself, a woman with a disability, represented in the movement ? After some time and research, I was able to identify myself mostly with Black feminism, away from early western feminism. But I ask myself, why do I have to be categorised in any way in order to defend human rights?”
What was your background and studies that took you to become an expert at the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
“In Guatemala, I studied Communications Sciences, at the University of San Carlos de Guatemala, followed by a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management and another one in Gender equality in Social Sciences at the University Complutense of Madrid. Afterwards, I did my PhD in Strategic and Social Communication, specialising in disability at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. For my doctoral thesis, I chose the topic of the rights of women with disabilities. This decision was highly influenced by my experience in my master's on Gender equality, where, during the lectures, I would ask questions regarding the rights of women and girls with disability and was always responded with the quote “that is a different category”. I was shocked, how could we be a “different category”, if we are also women? There was not enough research or information on the subject, even though we, persons with disabilities, are the majority-minority. And that was how I started my research for my master’s thesis and specialised in this field.”
Tell us more about the Committee on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities. How did your selection process develop?
“My selection process was very interesting. It was through CONADI (The National Council for the Care of People with Disabilities from Guatemala). A jury was composed of three women with experience in the field of human rights in Guatemala. One of them was Silvia Quan, my predecessor and former member of the Committee. An evaluation process was carried out, and thanks to my successful application, I ended up being Guatemala's candidate for the CRPD. Currently, I am waiting to see if, for the 2024 elections, the State of Guatemala will seek my re-election.”
“For my nomination, there were three relevant points that helped me get the position in the CRPD and on which I keep trying to focus my work in the Committee, regarding the following topics:
The rights of women and girls with disabilities, as I have already mentioned, regarding their low inclusion in society and in the feminist movement.
The rights of persons with short stature, including men and women.
The rights and situation of the indigenous population, especially indigenous women.”
How does the CRPD work to defend and promote the Rights of Women with Disabilities?
“There are working groups, within the Committee, that are organised according to the topics and interests of the experts. Personally, I am active in the Women’s Rights Working Group, where I have had the opportunity to contribute to a greater extent. For example,we organised and carried out a relevant event on the 25th of November for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, focusing on the situation of women with disabilities affected by gender-based violence.”
As a woman, what challenges have you faced during your career?
“Sometimes, you don't realise when you are excluded or violated as a woman. I was always aware of the disability issue, but when you are violated by another person with a disability it is harder to accept that you are being violated. I had a personal experience with a visually impaired male co-worker, who would take all the credit for my work and ideas. It was then that I began to realise that I was being discriminated against for being a woman and not for having a disability because we both had them. Additionally, I came to experience sexual harassment at work from this colleague as well. When I filed a formal complaint, the authorities themselves responded comically, saying that he treated me that way out of affection and that I was tender to him and to all of them. That was when I had the primary notion and impact of what being a woman implies and of the advantage that men have even on issues like this.”
“I began to pay attention to how other women with disabilities were feeling and how they were being treated. I realised it was amazing how invisible they were as women. They have not had the opportunity to decide how to be a woman, they didn’t feel included in the feminist movement. I was facing a barrier with women. Currently, I am involved in the Women's Political Agenda, trying to reconcile it with my activism for the rights of persons with disabilities.”
What advice would you give us regarding the inclusion of women with disabilities in politics and decision-making?
“This is a very important question. I am happy to share with you that, for the first time, I am entering the political scene as a woman and as a woman with a disability, exercising article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I will be participating in an electoral process at the municipal level here in Guatemala, as a candidate for councillor in the municipal mayor's office. It is a new challenge for me. I want to show the world that persons with disabilities, like Mara Gabrielli, are also capable of changing the world to become a better place.”
And, how can our governments facilitate their inclusion and participation while taking into account the personal needs of each of them?
“I would tell governments to have more will and to be more empathetic with citizens because Human Rights are not the enemy, it is about creating a fairer world. Many times it is not all about budgets. Financial aid is also important but there must be more will. Persons with disabilities are not looking for privileges, we are looking to be treated with dignity and that our rights, which are the same as those of any other person, are given with the necessary adjustments and help to be able to enjoy our rights as any other person.”
What fuels you to keep going in terms of adversity?
“The visibility and inclusion of people with short stature in public policies. I want to see young people engaged and empowered.”
For all the women in the world, what would your advice be?
“I would tell all women to dare to participate, to speak out, and to bring out their inner strength as women.”
Finally, Rosa has no plan to slow down the fight for the rights of persons with disabilities and for women with disabilities. She is a clear example of what inclusivity should be like, not forgetting anyone, as she consistently does in her work at the Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, always raising her voice in favor of people of short stature, indigenous women and, in general, women. Women like Rosa are changemakers and we, all women, could not be more thankful for her work.
Special thanks to our two dedicated volunteers Marie Henne and Daniela Lozano Niño for this amazing interview!
