Hear us out! New Report from Benin in the Voices Of collection

Between September and November 2025, the OFAB-NGO Dédji consortium met with 50 women with disabilities. Women of all ages and with all types of disabilities, some of whom are involved in associations and support groups, told us about their lives, their difficulties, their strengths, and their pride. They shared their realities with us, giving us a glimpse of what a more inclusive society would look like, one in which they would have their rightful place.

With technical support from Humanity & Inclusion Making It Work and financial support from EDID-GHDI

HEAR US OUT! is a report based on an in-depth qualitative study conducted with 50 women with disabilities in southern Benin. Through their testimonies, these women share their lived realities, challenges, strengths, and aspirations.

Conducted by women with disabilities for women with disabilities, the study highlights the intersectional discrimination they face, while also showcasing their resilience, leadership, and determination to be recognized as full actors in society.

The report reveals persistent barriers to civic participation, economic empowerment, access to essential services, and protection from gender-based violence. Although rights are formally recognized, their effective implementation remains limited. The women interviewed send a clear message: they want to be consulted, heard, and meaningfully involved in decisions that affect their lives. Their full inclusion is essential to building a more just, inclusive, and rights-based society in Benin.

Find the report in PDF format directly, also available in French, and click on this link to the entire ‘Voices Of..’ collection.