Authors: Von der Assen, N., Euwema, M. & Cornielje, H
Von der Assen, N., Euwema, M. & Cornielje, H. (2010) Including disabled children in psychosocial programmes in areas affected by armed conflict. Intervention. International Journal of mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counselling in Areas of Armed Conflict 8(1) 29-39[1].
Research on the impact of armed conflict on children with disabilities is scarce. One thoughtful analysis was undertaken in 2005 by Marlies van der Kroft[2], who explored both the needs and rights of such children, and detailed the difficulties they had in realizing those rights. Van der Kroft ends her paper with a call for further research to highlight the circumstances of disabled children and to protect their rights before, during and after war.
The paper by Nina von der Assen and her colleagues Mathijs Euwema and Huib Cornielje, which we present in our 23rd edition, was published some five years later in 2010. The focus here, however, is on the inclusion of children with disabilities in psychosocial programmes provided in areas affected by armed conflict. One major change since Van der Kroft’s 2005 paper has been the coming into force of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD - 2008). Both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC-1989) and the CRPD require that states take all necessary measures to ensure that children with disabilities fully enjoy their human rights on an equal basis with other children. These rights include the right to protection during situations of risk (including armed conflict situations) and to psychosocial rehabilitation after experiencing armed conflict. However, it seems that in spite of this facilitative international legal framework, children with disabilities still face considerable difficulties in realising their rights. For a variety of reasons, they are also effectively excluded from many psychosocial programmes provided by humanitarian organizations – unless those organizations are themselves addressing the needs and rights of those with disabilities. Sadly, it seems that little has changed on the ground in post-conflict situations since Van der Kroft wrote her analysis.
The Von der Assen et al paper should be considered essential reading for humanitarian organizations working with children in conflict situations. It goes beyond outlining the difficulties faced by children with disabilities to a detailed consideration of the steps that such organizations can take to ensure their inclusion in its fullest sense – including inputting into the design and delivery of disability friendly psychosocial programmes. Since the publication of Von der Assen et al’s paper, Save The Children and Handicap International[3] have published international research highlighting that children with disabilities remain at higher risk for sexual abuse than other children. It is clear that both research and practice in conflict and non-conflict situations must be further developed if the rights of these children, and their inclusion, are to be protected.
Dr Linda Dowdney
Editor
If you have any comments to make on this paper, or would like to submit a paper for publication, please contact me at: ldowdney@child-soldiers.org
Endnotes:
[1] http://www.interventionjournal.com/
[2] Van der Kroft (10/2005) Disabled children in Conflict Situations in Childhood Matters – Responses to young children in post-emergency situations (Ed M.McCallin) 104, 55-59
http://www.bernardvanleer.org/English/Home/Publications/Browse_by_series.html?ps_page=2&ps_count=0&getSeries=4 (last accessed 1st November, 2012).
[3] Handicap International and Save the Children (2011) Out from the Shadows – Sexual Violence against Children with Disabilities. Published by Save the Children, UK. http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/resources/online-library/out-from-the-shadows-sexual-violence-against-children-with-disabilities (last accessed 1st November, 2012).