Creating equity through disability inclusive peacebuilding
By Lauren Evans
According to the World Bank, over 15% of the world’s population experiences some form of disability. For countries who have experienced conflict, the numbers are even higher. In Syria, at least 25% of people over the age of twelve have a disability. Persons with disabilities are more likely to experience poor socioeconomic outcomes, health disparities, and less access to education, and therefore are also more severely impacted by the outbreak of armed conflict. For groups with intersecting marginalized identities, such as women, religious or ethnic minorities, the risks are even greater.
Therefore, in the delicate work of building peace and reconciliation, one critical thread often overlooked is the representation of disabled individuals. Their voices, their experiences, their needs — all are integral components to weaving a lasting peace. The U.S. has long been a global leader and champion of disability rights, inclusion, and representation. In 1990, it was the first nation in the world to pass national legislation on the rights of disabled individuals with the Americans with Disabilities Act after years of advocacy. Despite this, the U.S. has failed to effectively promote such inclusive policies globally, particularly in humanitarian aid assistance and response.
When the U.S. supports countries recovering from conflict and natural disasters, it must ensure disability inclusion mechanisms and opportunity for community consultation to minimize risks for those with disabilities and enable a greater chance of successful and sustainable peace processes.
According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration, conflict is the primary driver of displacement. In 2022, 71.1 million people were internally displaced. Persons with disabilities are not always physically able flee conflict zones, and can be at higher risk of harm during fighting. Even if they do evacuate, they may struggle to seek shelter or receive access to assistive devices. Emergency signs or evacuation routes may be inaccessible.
When humanitarian responses don’t adequately account for those with disabilities, it can increase the risk of harm and prevent the restoration of dignity and justice to those impacted.
USAID’s current Disability Programming Hub offers program highlights, technical expertise, and learning modules, which are valuable, if outdated, resources for those working in conflict-affected areas. USAID should do more to ensure these online resources are relevant, accessible, and effectively used on the ground.
USAID’s Disability Policy serves to provide guidelines for USAID programs and funding and has existed in its current form since 1997. While USAID currently progresses on past due efforts to update their Disability Policy, the prompt release of its revision remains a crucial next step. Additionally, USAID’s Disability-Inclusive Development learning courses for program implementers to have shared knowledge of disability concepts should be updated through direct consultation with disabled groups and individuals, work that goes beyond identifying societal barriers to be overcome for effective inclusion.
Part of the Hub, the Disability Program Fund, launched in 2005 before the UN’s 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, demonstrated U.S. commitment to human equity. This fund aims to increase the participation of people with disabilities in USAID programs and has supported more than 110 programs in over 65 countries, including work on improving school attendance, providing job training for those with disabilities as well as training for first responders to better incorporate the needs of all people.
In instances of direct humanitarian action, USAID should ensure the involvement of their Disability Rights Coordinator alongside local organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs). This would demonstrate a clear commitment to consultation at all steps of a program. Historically, ODPs have been hampered by lack of funding and accessibility failures that make it harder for them to do their work. In some projects, ODPs report being brought on as sub-contractors late in the project timeline, denying them the ability to shape relevant project designs from the beginning. Additionally, the Disability Program Fund application should be accessible in local languages, giving more ODPs the opportunity to apply for funding.
Persons with disabilities have also reported challenges accessing food and healthcare provided in refugee camps due to chaotic and disorganized distribution methods. USAID should ensure reliable, equitable distribution of resources and make appropriate accommodations for those with disabilities. Further consultation with individuals on the ground is, again, an integral part of the solution.
Lastly, USAID should ensure robust reporting on inclusion concerns, ensuring that problems faced in one instance are fixed for the next.
The UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda advances the empowerment and meaningful participation of those with disabilities through a commitment to provide inclusive education, eliminate gender disparities, and work opportunities. The U.S. government must do more to ensure these goals can be realized. The United States’ leadership domestically shows the U.S has the expertise and practice; now USAID must do more to guarantee and successfully promote such inclusive policies globally.
Lauren Evans is the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s Peacebuilding team’s program assistant. She advocates for sustainable and nonviolent foreign policy and has just completed her graduate degree in Peacebuilding and Mediation from the University of St. Andrews, after receiving her bachelor’s degree at the University of Richmond.
