Generally speaking, public participation and making sure voices are hard is one of the fundamentals of duty bearers to conceive ideas and ensure development and engagement takes place. [Carol 2018]
Persons with disabilities face challenges, due
to numerous barriers that limit their active participation in decision-making processes and are less
likely to have their humanitarian protection needs met. Most affected are children with disabilities, as
well as children whose caregivers live with a disability [save the children 2020 HI 2020[ Article 7 of the UNCRPD further calls for
children with disabilities’ enjoyment of “all
human rights and fundamental freedoms
on an equal basis with other children”
and that in all actions concerning them,
the “best interests” of the child shall be a
primary consideration and that “children
with disabilities have the right to express
their views freely on all matters affecting
them on an equal basis with other children,
and to be provided with disability and age appropriate
assistance to realize that right. In other words, Disability-inclusive child safeguarding means implementing child safeguarding systems that include all children, including children with disabilities.
Children, particularly those with disabilities, are disproportionately affected by violence, facing a
plethora of challenges: marginalization, lack of access to adapted services, and even direct targeting
for violence. Globally, it is estimated that some 93 million children – or one in 20 of those under 15
years of age – live with a moderate or severe disability, with 13 million (0.7%) children experiencing
severe difficulties [UNICEF 2019 save the children 2020] Children with disabilities as well as children whose parents and/or caregivers have
a disability is not only among the most isolated, socially excluded, and marginalized of all displaced
populations, but also among those most vulnerable to violence and abuse. Body of research show that children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children,
3.7 times more likely than non-disabled children to be victims of any sort of violence, 3.6 times more
likely to be victims of physical violence, and 2.9 times more likely to be victims of sexual violence.
The population faces many risks as a result of multiple and complex unmet needs
furthermore Lack of data on boos and girls with disabilities perpetuates their invisibility and lack of representation in policies and programming
All humanitarian organizations should understand “States Parties recognize that women and
that girls with disabilities are protected girls with disabilities are subject to multiple
from harm through the following legal discrimination, and in this regard shall
frameworks: take measures to ensure the full and equal
enjoyment by them of all human rights and
Girls with disabilities, like all children, are fundamental freedoms.”59
protected by the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.58 Similarly, under the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Under the Convention on the Rights of Against Women, there is a recognition
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Article 6 that gender-based violence is shaped by
on Women with Disabilities, intersecting dimensions of inequality,
including disability.
As a public policy scholar diversity and inclusion expert I opine that child with disabilities have the same
rights as children without disabilities.
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The views expressed here are for the author and do not represent any agency or organization.
Mugambi Paul is a public policy, diversity, inclusion and sustainability expert.
Australian Chief Minister Award winner
“Excellence of making inclusion happen”