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On the 14th of June 2016, the Netherlands signed a United Nations(UN) convention meant to better the societal position of disabled people. “The norm will be that there will be no more barriers for disabled people.” Those were the words of former SGP-party leader and member of the Dutch parliament, Kees van der Staaij, when said parliament unanimously voted in favour of signing the convention.
This year it’s been ten years since my country signed the convention. This year it took me six months of waiting and bureaucracy to get a mobility aid. Six months of not being able to leave the house by myself. Six months of not being able to do the groceries for myself. Six months of my life being put completely on hold. All while the wheels of bureaucracy slowly, and unhurriedly ground away.
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He was my best friend.
Sometimes, when I’d run away from home, I’d come to him and he’d sleep on the couch so I could take his bed.
He taught me how to laugh when I hadn’t smiled in months.
He was my absolute rock.
He was my best friend.
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I, like many women, am no stranger to the difficulties and dangers women face: social discrimination tells us from a young age that we are overly emotional and unintelligent, less worthy than men both in the workplace and in the family. From the moment we are old enough to play, we are given dolls, clothing and friendly advice aimed at turning us into nurturing mothers and obedient wives. And don’t even try to be a career woman, that would threaten the well being of the family you are supposed to care for.
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