Disabilities Among Refugees and Conflict-Affected Populations

Disabilities Among Refugees and Conflict-Affected Populations, the
companion report to this resource kit, is the culmination of a six-month
project commissioned by theWomen’s Commission for RefugeeWomen
and Children and co-funded by the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) to address the rights and needs of displaced
persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on women (including
older women), children and youth. Based on field research in five
refugee situations, as well as global desk research, theWomen’s
Commission sought to map existing services for displaced persons with
disabilities, identify gaps and good practices and make
recommendations on how to improve services, protection and
participation for displaced persons with disabilities. The objective of the
project was to gather initial empirical data and produce a resource kit
that would be of practical use to UN and nongovernmental organization
(NGO) field staff working with displaced persons with disabilities.
While refugees and IDPs with disabilities face enormous challenges,
the research was not wholly negative. The Women’s Commission
found examples of innovative and successful programs for refugees
with disabilities, particularly in the areas of inclusive and special
needs education, vocational and skills training, community health care
and outreach programs and prosthetics and physical rehabilitation
(especially for land mine survivors). We found situations where
refugees with disabilities and their families were highly organized and
had formed their own self-help support groups. The Women’s
Commission also found examples of positive disability awareness
programs. Given an accessible physical environment, heightened
disability awareness, both within their community and the local host
community, and an inclusive approach by agencies assisting them,
displaced persons with disabilities can live independent lives,
participate fully in public affairs and make positive contributions to
their communities.
The research found that, in general, services and opportunities for
refugees with disabilities were better in refugee camps than in urban
settings. Due to the more geographically and socially cohesive nature of
refugee camps, it is easier to identify refugees with disabilities, adapt
programs to be more inclusive and set up specialized services. It is also
easier to effect attitudinal and programmatic change in refugee camps.
Urban refugee communities are more dispersed and less physically
cohesive. Many urban refugees are undocumented and lack any legal
status. They are often afraid of the authorities and prefer to remain
“hidden.” This makes it much harder to identify persons with disabilities
or to integrate them into mainstream or specialized services.
The study showed that less information and fewer services were
available for people with mental disabilities than those with physical
and sensory disabilities. Refugees with mental disabilities tended to
be more “invisible” and “hidden” from public view than those with
physical disabilities. They were less likely to be identified in
registration and data collection exercises and tended to be more
excluded from both mainstream and targeted assistance programs.
They were less likely to be included in decision-making processes or in
leadership and program management structures.