Ida Ismail
In Albanian society, the sexuality of people with disabilities remains a taboo topic, shrouded in myths and prejudices. Many people see disability only as a health issue, forgetting that those who face physical or mental barriers also have the same need for love, closeness and acceptance. To challenge these taboos, the “Së Bashku” Foundation, in collaboration with UNFPA, has developed the manual “Myths and Facts about Sexuality and Disability”, which aims to debunk myths that have isolated an entire community for decades and to affirm the right of these people to love, feelings and intimacy.
"It is a topic that is rarely addressed in Albania. As a marginalized group, people with disabilities must be included in the full framework of human rights, with clear and comprehensive policies and legislation," says Suela Lala, director of the "Së Bashku" Foundation.
Meanwhile, Dorina Toçaj, from the Albanian office of the United Nations Agency for Sexual and Reproductive Health (UNFPA), says that stigma is so widespread that it also appears among health professionals and other fields, adding to the barriers to receiving Services for people with disabilities.
"These myths and prejudices increase isolation and affect the self-esteem of people with disabilities. The lack of access to information and Services makes them more vulnerable and more vulnerable to abuse," Toçaj underlines.
Against this backdrop of prejudice, the story of Kristjana Lee, an Albanian lawyer married to Teo from Korea, with whom she also has a son, is living proof that love knows no boundaries.
"There were many prejudices, like why a 'healthy' person should be in a relationship with someone with a disability. Almost everyone was against it, but love triumphed. And the insistence of both of them to continue this relationship, regardless of the opinions of others," says Kristjana.
The manual presents 15 common myths, facing the truths that debunk them one by one. Some of them are:
Myths: People with disabilities do not have sexual desires.
Facts: Like every human being, they have feelings, desires, and the capacity for intimacy.
Myths: They cannot form relationships or get married.
Facts: They fall in love, get married, and build healthy, happy relationships.
Myths: People with disabilities cannot be good parents.
Facts: Being a good parent does not depend on physical ability, but on love and responsibility.
Myths: They don't need sex education.
Facts: Lack of sex education makes them more exposed to abuse and unwanted pregnancies.
At the end of the day, being disabled does not make anyone less desirable or less human. Debunking myths is the first step to building a society with equal rights and without prejudice. /acqj.al
