Disability, Sexuality, and Gender in Asia: Intersectionality, Human Rights, and the Law

This book introduces experiential knowledge of the intersectionality of disability, sexuality, and gender equality issues. Scholars and disabled persons’ organizations in different Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Nepal, and Japan have contributed to the book. It is a preliminary introduction of the frontline practice of Asian disability activism and the experience of women and LGBTIQ people with disabilities. It presents the direct participation of disability advocates in mapping how both women with disabilities and LGBTIQ individuals with disabilities realize their rights such as identity, work rights, personal safety, and sexual rights. Studies presented here explore the experience of empowering diverse disability groups and advocating for equality and non-discrimination. It explains how to use the leverage of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) for further human rights campaigns in a broader context for disadvantaged groups.

This collection is the product of a participatory research project, which aims to increase the capabilities of local disabled persons’ organizations and NGOs in utilizing human rights laws and encourage dialogue and collaboration between academia, people with disabilities, and human rights advocates. It will be essential reading for academics, researchers, policy-makers, and campaign groups.

Wanhong Zhang earned his PhD in Law from Wuhan University School of Law, Wuhan, China, where he now holds the position of Professor of Jurisprudence. He studies and teaches in the legal areas related to human rights, public interest, and civil society. He is the pioneer of rights-based disability studies in China and founding editor-in-chief of Disability Rights Studies in China.

Elisabeth Perioli Bjørnstøl studied Chinese language at Fudan University from 1995 to 1997. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Chinese studies from the University of Oslo and a master’s degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) with specialization in international law, international relations, and Chinese foreign policy.

Peng Ding earned his PhD in Law from Wuhan University School of Law, Wuhan, China. He is currently overseeing a registered NGO in Wuhan and has committed to human rights research and advocacy for more than 10 years.

Wei Gao obtained her master’s degrees in Law Theories from Wuhan University and in Human Rights Law from Central European University. She is currently a researcher on international human rights law. She previously worked as a researcher and programme manager with Wuhan East-Lake Institute for Social Advancement in Wuhan, China.

Hanxu Liu is a PhD researcher at the Department of International and European Law at the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University. She previously worked as a project coordinator at Wuhan University Public Interest and Development Law Institute and later as a part-time researcher at Wuhan East-Lake Institute for Social Advancement in Wuhan, China.

Yijun Liu is a senior researcher at Wuhan East-Lake Institute for Social Advancement, a registered NGO in Wuhan. Her research field is disability and gender. She graduated from Wuhan University Law School.