Moving from exclusion to recognition- Maatafa Faatino raises the voices from women with disabilities in the Pacific

Image

Maatafa Faatino is the General Manager of the National Advocacy Organization of Persons with Disabilities in Samoa and a Board Member of the Pacific Disability Forum.  She joined the two-day intergenerational dialogue “Waves of Change: Pacific Women Lead Across Generations in Fiji” aimed at advancing women’s participation in leadership and decision-making and transforming gender norms which took place on 30 September and 1 October 2025 in Nadi, Fiji.

“The road has not been easy. I’ve faced many barriers, from systemic exclusion and cultural perceptions to stigma. But instead of letting these challenges define me, I’ve used them to amplify the voices of women and girls with disabilities, who are too often unheard.

In fact, my lived experience as a woman with a disability inspired me to speak up, to advocate for recognition, inclusion, and full participation for all. This journey has allowed me to hold leadership roles both in Samoa and across the Pacific, where I’ve worked to influence policy, strengthen movements, and drive disability-inclusive development.

Each obstacle became an opportunity, not just for me, but for others. Through this journey, I’ve seen how our struggles can be turned into meaningful change. The milestones we’ve achieved are not just about inclusion on paper, but about moving from exclusion to recognition, ensuring that disability is counted, represented, and prioritized as part of every national agenda. Because what’s written in policies or plans only matters when it connects to the realities of people on the ground.

Women’s participation in leadership is essential. For women and girls with disabilities, being in leadership means helping shape policies, laws, and services that truly reflect our realities and challenging stereotypes.

To build a more equal society, we must start with recognition, and equitable access to resources and opportunities. True equality doesn’t mean treating everyone the same; it means ensuring that all women, including those with disabilities, have the targeted support they need to participate fully. 

The most effective way to make progress is simple: talk to women and girls with disabilities themselves. Listen to their stories. Learn from their experiences. Because their perspectives will tell you how to support them best and, in turn, they will teach you just as much as you teach them.

In the disability movement, we work and live alongside those we advocate for. We build solidarity with other women’s movements because we know that inclusion benefits everyone. Across the Pacific, more and more women with disabilities are taking up leadership roles, influencing national agendas, representing our region internationally, and shaping the future of our societies.

We still have a long way to go, but I can say that we are progressing. We are moving toward a Pacific where women and girls with disabilities are recognized on an equal basis with all others, as contributors to our communities and nations.

To young women, especially those with disabilities, I offer these three advice:

• First, recognize your worth and your voice. Leadership begins the moment you find the courage to step forward.
• Second, stay grounded in your values but never be afraid to challenge systems that exclude you.
• And third, build solidarity with other women, including women with disabilities, because only together we can transform the systems that hold us back.”

The Convening took place under the WYDE | Women’s Leadership initiative, funded by the European Union, which is a collaborative global effort aimed at advancing women’s full and effective political participation and decision-making at all levels, especially those most often left furthest behind.

Note: These publications aim to stimulate a constructive debate on key issues of interest for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. The views expressed by the individuals interviewed for the production of our editorial content do not necessarily reflect the official position of UN Women, the United Nations system agencies or the European Union.