Strengthening the Protection of Persons with Disabilities in forced Displacement; The situation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) with disabilities in Ukraine (April 2016)
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Download document - INTRODUCTION
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15 percent of any population are persons with disabilities1, with potentially higher proportions in communities that have fled conflict or natural disasters. Hence it can be estimated that there may be approximately 126,716 persons with disabilities among the population of refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs and stateless persons in Ukraine.
In situations of forced displacement, persons with disabilities may be at heightened risk of exploitation and violence; and often face numerous barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance.
In addition, persons with disabilities are often excluded from participation in decision- making processes and opportunities to use their capacities to benefit their families and communities.
UNHCR’s Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) Policy details the organization’s wider commitment to a rights-based approach and highlights that effective protection will only be achieved by ensuring equal consideration is given to the needs and capacities of different age, gender and diversity groups within displaced communities. UNHCR is thus committed to ensuring that the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs with disabilities are met without discrimination.
- BACKGROUND
In April 2016, UNHCR in Ukraine, with support from UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, carried out consultation with refugees and IDPs with disabilities and Ukrainian organizations of persons with disabilities, in order to understand their protection concerns and ideas for change. Consultations were carried out in Kyiv, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Svyatohirsk, Slovyansk and Severodonetsk, involving a total of 114 refugees and IDPs. Meetings were also held with Ukrainian and international organizations and with state administration. This consultation process was followed by workshops in Odessa and in Severodonetsk, with participation by persons with disabilities and their families from the IDP communities, UNHCR staff and partners, as well as local authorities and Ukrainian and international organizations working with persons with disabilities. The workshops involved training and sensitization on the rights of persons with disabilities, and participatory action planning to address the main concerns identified during consultations. This process produced a rich body of information about the concerns of refugees and IDPs with disabilities, and their proposals for change. This report presents a summary of the findings of this process, including recommendations and plans developed for the way forward.