Our New Publication Addresses the Devastating Impact of Conflict on Persons with Disabilities

View of the cover page of the publication Diability and Armed Conflict View of the cover page of the publication Diability and Armed Conflict

7 May 2019

Our new publication Disability and Armed Conflict brings attention to the devastating impact conflict has on persons with disabilities and, crucially, highlights that many of the key international humanitarian law (IHL) provisions that serve to minimize the impact of armed conflict – such as the proportionality assessment and advanced effective warnings – are not being applied in a disability inclusive manner, resulting in persons with disabilities being killed, seriously injured or left behind as families flee armed attacks.

‘This publication brings attention to this extremely important, yet much overlooked topic that has been predominately ignored by states, humanitarian organizations, the United Nations (UN), civil society, the media as well as academics. It is the outcome of more than three years of research funded by SNIS and Pro Victimis, including field research in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, Palestine, Ukraine and Vietnam’ underlines Professor Marco Sassòli, Director of the Geneva Academy.

The First Study on its Kind

Persons with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world. According to the World Health Organization, they represent at least 15 percent of every population. Despite this, and the severe consequences that armed conflict has on them, ‘disability’ is still widely considered a niche issue in the conflict setting.

‘Very little research or literature exists on the topic’ underlines Alice Priddy, former Senior Researcher at the Geneva Academy and author of the publication.

‘Open the contents page or index of any textbook on armed conflict and it is unlikely to include ‘disability’. Military manuals and IHL training programmes do not meaningfully incorporate the disability perspective while UN-mandated commissions of inquiry and UN agency reports routinely fail to include a disability analysis of armed conflict. Alarmingly, not a single resolution of the UN Security Council, Human Rights Council or General Assembly is dedicated to addressing the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on persons with disabilities’ she adds.

Key Findings and Recommendations to Apply IHL in a Disability Inclusive Manner

The publication offers eight key findings and recommendations for states, humanitarian organizations and the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The findings and associated recommendations relate to: the application of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in differing conflict settings, the relationship between the CRPD and IHL, as well as analysis of a number of key IHL norms, including adverse distinction and humane treatment from a disability perspective.

The findings also challenge the miss-conceptions that continue to dominate disability discourse: including incorrect understandings of ‘disability’, the under-inclusive focus on physical and sensory impairment, and prevention of primary impairment being wrongly included within disability-rights.

‘In sum, the publication highlights that IHL is not being applied in a disability inclusive manner and this amounts to discrimination under the CRPD and also goes against IHL’s own norms that demand humane treatment and prohibit adverse distinction’ stresses Alice Priddy.

Ensuring Concrete Changes on the Ground

Besides the recommendations offered in the publication, training sessions were held in Palestine, Ukraine and Vietnam, to provide stakeholders on the ground – local organizations of persons with disabilities, state representatives, UN agencies and other international humanitarian organizations – with an overview of international law applicable to persons with disabilities and their inclusion in norms related to the conduct of hostilities.

‘We plan to continue to work on this topic by publishing a Military Briefing in early 2020 that will offer very concrete guidance to militaries on the law and policy changes they need to make to ensure that they are applying their IHL obligations in an inclusive manner’ explains Professor Marco Sassòli.

A Photo Exhibition to Raise Awareness on this Issue

Determined to bring attention to the lives of persons with disabilities living in armed conflict, we have partnered with the photographer Giles Duley to tell the stories of some of those affected by armed conflict.

His photo exhibition on Quai Wilson (Geneva) from 30 Avril to 30 May 2019 tells the stories of persons with disabilities during and following armed conflicts including Odai in Gaza, Yasmine in Iraq, Betty in Uganda and Kholoud who fled Syria with her family and now lives in Holland after having spent almost three years in Lebanon.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

video camera on a tripod News

The Geneva Academy in 2023: 10 Things to Watch

13 February 2023

2023 will be a busy year for us. Discover what we are up to and some topical issues we will address and work on via our research, Geneva Human Rights Platform and master’s programmes.

Read more

Aerial view of destroyed buildings News

Experts Discuss the Use of Open-Source Information to Document IHL and Human Rights Violations

10 January 2023

A one-day consultation aimed at discussing with a variety of experts the challenges, opportunities and best practices arising from an increased reliance on open source information in accountability processes.

Read more

Event

Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 75: Reimagining Protection for a World in Turmoil

12 June 2023, 14:00-15:30

This event, co-organized with Amnesty International, will discuss the gains made since the UDHR adoption, challenges to the international normative framework on human rights and what the international community needs to do for a better future.

Read more

Neurotechnology and Neuromodulation - Conceptual Illustration Event

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

6 June 2023, 10:00-11:30

In this Human Rights Conversation, panelists will discuss the challenges that neurotechnologies raise for the enjoyment of human rights and the current work of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on this issue.

Read more

View of a session of the UN Human Rights Committee Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

3-7 July 2023

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

18-22 September 2023

This training course will explore the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as with their implementation and enforcement mechanisms; and provide practical insights into the different UN human rights mechanisms pertinent to advancing environmental issues and protecting environmental human rights defenders.

Read more

George Floyd protest in Washington D.C. Project

Promoting and Protecting the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association and Civic Space Worldwide

Started in June 2020

This project aims at providing support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Voulé by addressing emerging issues affecting civic space and eveloping tools and materials allowing various stakeholders to promote and defend civic space.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Project

The Universality of Human Rights: Developing Narratives to Help Overcome Polarization

Completed in January 2020

This research aimed at taking stock of and contributing to a better understanding of the above-mentioned challenges to the principle of universality of human rights while also questioning their validity.

Read more

Cover page of the research brief Publication

Climate Change in the Security Council: Obstacles, Opportunities, and Options

published on May 2023

Erica Harper, Adam Day

Read more