Policy Analysis and Practitioner Documents
Source: ECOSOC, E/CN.5/2008/6This note provides an overview of the background, practicalities and resources available towards mainstreaming disability in the development agenda of The Commission for Social Development. Aimed at providing comprehensive coverage of the direction of the international community in its efforts to mainstream disabilities in to development programs, the note highlights principle efforts such as the no gap policy, which emphasizes the cooperation of all actors, the increased involvement of such coordinated efforts in activities such as capacity building, promotion of decent work, socio-economic integration, empowerment and inclusion. There is a renewed effort to adequately use the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a tool for mainstreaming development, with actors such as Governments and International Organizations such as the ILO incorporating its provisions within development programs, readily useable in post-conflict settings. The note provides examples and lessons learned from previous work done on gender and HIV/AIDS mainstreaming with principles extracted for future use on mainstreaming in disability. The note concludes with discussion points for actors who are seeking to expand or begin their work on mainstreaming disability into their development programs.
Source: Handicap International From the basis that persons with disabilities are more likely to be excluded from relief activities in times of emergency, including crisis and disasters, and that they are especially vulnerable to physical, sexual and emotional abuse, Handicap International has developed guidelines and recommendations towards the protection and inclusion of these vulnerable populations. This especially includes displaced persons and refugees, who are jointly affected by changes to their environment and familiar reference points. The document briefly reviews definitions, facts and international legal protection and proceeds to highlight primary protection issues and methods for the integration and protection of these vulnerable populations. Examples of initiatives to respond to protection issues include: prevention and warning systems; monitoring and complaints investigation mechanisms to redress violations of rights; proximity and access to existing facilities; monitoring access to relief activities and psycho-social support. Handicap International advocates for an integrated approach towards people with disabilities and these succinct guidelines build on activities the organization has already undertaken, including rehabilitation, assistance and support to people with disabilities in emergencies.
Source: UN High Commissioner for RefugeesUNHCR has developed a manual of guidelines and recommendations aimed at placing people of concern at the centre of all decision affecting their lives, especially when faced with situations of displacement. Developed primarily for all UNHCR personnel, the manual is also useful for partners with UNHCR and can be read in conjunction with UNHCR’s Handbook for Repatriation and Reintegration Activities. The primary issues developed in this manual include building a common understanding amongst UNHCR staff and partners towards initiatives focused on inclusiveness; participation and equality; providing practical guidance on the development and implementation of community-based approaches to include the participation of all people of concern, and present the considerations for specific contexts (urban, emergency, IDP’s) including case studies on return and reintegration, conflict and conflict resolution, amongst others. The authors conclude with recommendations towards the cohesion and effectiveness of activities by all actors, national and international in the protection of people of concern.
Source: UNHCRThis document provides a reference list for all the specialized international agencies working on or with people with disabilities. It is destined primarily for UNHCR personnel, but can be used by all organizations who seek to expand their partnerships when working on initiatives targeting internally displaced populations, returning and reintegration projects, refugees or stateless people in conflict and post-conflict settings. Most organizations have been selected based on the preferred criteria that they are internationally recognized and play a large role worldwide or within their area of operation. Examples of such organizations include: Handicap International, Christian Blind Mission, The World Health Organization Disability and Rehabilitation Team, Caritas, Save the Children. There are also numerous local NGOs, with focuses ranging from arts programs to training, providing financial support or organizing assistance programs. The list is divided into five regions (Africa, Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Americas) and their respective nations and categorized alphabetically with descriptions of the organization’s main work and topic areas as well as contact information.
Source: Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and ChildrenThrough its extensive survey of programs intended for individuals with disabilities in refugee settings, the Women’s Commission provides one of the most comprehensive resources available, outlining guidelines to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. The purpose of the toolkit is to assist humanitarian aid agencies modify their programs to create reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The thematic areas for protection include shelter; water; sanitation; nonfood-item distribution; health services; physical rehabilitation; education; vocational training; income generation; and psychosocial programs. The kit states that the following principles should guide all work done on behalf of refugees and IDP’s with disabilities: rights based approach; inclusive approach; accessibility; independent living; age, gender and diversity awareness. The Women’s Commission concludes that the resource kit is a work in progress and will continue grow with the help and input of a variety of actors.
Source: World Health Organization, The Inter-Agency Standing CommitteeThis document aims to provide guidelines that will enable humanitarian actors to plan, establish and set minimum multi-sectoral responses to protect and improve people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being in the midst of an emergency, such as armed conflicts and natural disasters. Primary issues discussed include: mental health and the psychosocial impact of emergencies; establishing coordination of intersectoral support; assessing issues and initiating participatory evaluation systems; protection and human rights standards; recruiting staff and community mobilization; health services, education and dissemination of information; food security and nutrition; and culturally-sensitive site planning. The WHO states that these guidelines provide essential information on how to facilitate an integrated approach to programs that addresses the most urgent mental health and psychosocial issues in emergency situations.
Source: OHCHR, No 14This handbook, designed primarily for parliamentarians, aims to integrate The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in parliamentary activities and to facilitate the transition from exclusion to equality for people with disabilities. Primary themes of the handbook include outlining the Convention; examining the obligations of State parties; guidelines for the incorporation of the Convention into National legislature; implementation of the Convention and creating national institutes to monitor and report on the implementation process. The authors argue that parliamentarians have a key role in protecting and promoting human rights worldwide and that the Convention is a long overdue response to the discrimination felt by disabled persons everywhere. The authors conclude that the Convention is the international community’s way to identify the needs of people with disabilities and bring positive change to their lives.
Source: UNESCAP, ESID/HLM-MIPAA/2This paper, originally prepared for the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme, Standing Committee, examines the challenges facing older persons and persons with disabilities in displacement situations. Primary issues covered in this paper include the many protection challenges facing people with disabilities and older persons; examples of responses by international actors and proposed follow-up action including capacity building and attitudinal change, strengthening partnerships; early identification and individual case management. The authors argue that the protection of displaced and elderly populations is a concern for all actors, but that measures must be implemented which move beyond seeing these populations as solely vulnerable and dependent. The authors conclude by emphasizing that new strategies need to prioritize inclusiveness and increased advocacy on behalf of these populations, resulting in increased support to Member States, UNHCR and partners addressing challenges and working for the protection of disabled and elderly persons.
Source: United Nations Enable: Rights and Dignity of Persons with DisabilitiesThe Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with 82 signatories to the Convention, 44 signatories to the Optional Protocol, and one ratification of the Convention, the highest number of signatories to a Convention on opening day. This comprehensive Convention outlines the rights of individuals with disabilities as well as the obligations of State Parties to the Convention. The Convention pushes for a social development dimension, seeking to cover the broadest number of disabled people possible. It applies all categories of human rights and fundamental freedoms to persons with disabilities and helps to clarify their rights in the face of discrimination. Such rights include, amongst others: the right to equal recognition before the law; the right to not be subject to exploitation; the right to security of their person; and the right to liberty of movement and of expression. Seen as long overdue, this Convention aims to bring equality to persons living with disabilities and seeks to rectify the injustices and discrimination suffered by handicapped persons worldwide.
Source: Anthony Zwi et al., AusAIDThe Companion Manuel was developed to aid donor agencies and project managers in assessing the capacity of programs to effectively work towards peacebuilding and stability in post conflict settings. It is meant to supplement the Health and Peacebuilding Filter Manuel as a toolkit for practitioners in the field. The overarching goal is to provide guidelines to the planning, organization and implementation of peacebuilding programs to effectively build sustainable peace through the inclusion of all vulnerable populations. The health sector, in particular, has a responsibility towards the protection and inclusion of physically and psychologically affected people in post-conflict settings. Based on five principles of cultural sensitivity, conflict sensitivity, social justice, social cohesion and good governance, this manual provides indicators and their appropriate responses, examples of constructive inclusion of vulnerable populations, action plans and resources towards the inclusion, empowerment and protection of vulnerable populations within peacebuilding. The authors argue that social justice, non-discrimination, gender sensitivity and psycho-social wellbeing are intrinsic to sustainable peace and conclude with guidelines to maintain such standards that are applicable to all peacebuilding programs.
Source: Florence Baingana and Ian Bannon, The World Bank Health Nutrition and Population and Conflict Prevention and ReconstructionThis toolkit, drawing on five years of mental health activities for conflict-affected populations by the World Bank and UN partners, aims at highlighting the need for effective initiatives for people with mental health and psychosocial disorders to be implemented in the aftermath of conflict. Primary themes include providing approaches and guidance on the integration of mental health and psychosocial interventions into Bank-lending and support for countries emerging from conflict. The toolkit also provides guidelines on programming and operationalization of initiatives to actors with details on program components, concept definitions and existing challenges. The authors argue that the failure to provide for such strategies and programs will hinder efforts to promote social capital, human development and reduce poverty. The toolkit concludes by emphasizing the “growing body of evidence showing that interventions to address mental health are both desirable and feasible, in order to support post-conflict recovery, the consolidation of peace and reconciliation, and the transition to sustainable development and poverty reduction.”
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