Children with disabilities face not only daily life barriers but are disproportionately affected by armed conflict. The lack of data, coupled with stigmas and discrimination, has resulted in leaving these children behind, hindering efforts to fully understand the impact of war on them. To address this issue, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG CAAC) has released a groundbreaking report titled ‘Towards Greater Inclusion: A Discussion Paper on the CAAC Mandate and Children with Disabilities in Armed Conflict.‘
This report delves into the distinct ways armed conflict impacts children with disabilities and offers recommendations to make the CAAC mandate more inclusive. It serves as the first part of a series, with upcoming country-specific companion reports focusing on children with disabilities in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Iraq.
Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, highlighted the significant gap in understanding the impact on these children, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data. While UNICEF estimates that nearly 240 million kids worldwide have disabilities, the specific number impacted by armed conflict remains unknown.
HEIGHTENED RISK FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Several factors contribute to the heightened risk for children with disabilities in conflict situations. Challenges in accessing schools, healthcare, and other services are compounded by destroyed infrastructure and limited safe spaces. Evacuation procedures and early warning systems often fail to accommodate their needs, exposing them to increased risks of grave violations.
The report outlines actionable steps, including strengthening data collection within the monitoring and reporting mechanism on children and armed conflict. It emphasizes the importance of consulting with persons with disabilities, including kids, and organizations representing them. Training and capacity-building efforts on disability inclusion are recommended to enhance the protection of these children in conflict zones.
The report concludes with a call for collective efforts to better account for children with disabilities and address their specific requirements in actions aimed at protecting conflict-affected kids.
