Any average person is currently at risk of post stress disorder related to the earthquakes that have hit the country. Persons feel vulnerable and show symptoms of insecurity and uncertainty.
Yet few of us might have thought about the implications of the recent events for a person living with disabilities (PLWDs).
Let’s try making an effort and thinking hard: what does it mean being on a wheelchair and not having the possibility to access to the shelters that have been set up by the local communities or what could be the feelings and emotions of someone who have to abandon herself to others, no matter how close they are, in order to run out of the houses when the shocks come simply because she is visually impaired?
What about expressing your fears or simply needs in a way that really few can understand because you are mute and deaf?
While the international law and international humanitarian standards and practices clearly support and advocate for mainstreaming of disabilities in the emergency and humanitarian assistance, it is hard to find concrete evidence that the post quake relief assistance have been disability centered. After all any natural emergency system merely reflects its society.
When the “system” relief and coping mechanisms are inadequate to address such emergency, no wonder that PLWDs are simply and plainly left behind as the entire society neglects their issues, furthering marginalizing them.
Article 11 of the UN Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons living with disabilities states “States Parties shall take, in accordance with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters”
Article 32 advocates for a system approach based on the concept of international cooperation where the states parties commit themselves, among others, to make all international development programs inclusive and accessible to persons living with disabilities.
The sad truth is that as often happen, these international principles are just source of inspiration rather than action. The same happens when international humanitarian practices and standards apply. For example the Core Standards linked to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response developed by the Sphere Project mentions among others the importance of people centered humanitarian response (Standard 1), the importance of coordination and collaboration (Standard 2), the strategic relevance of adequate assessment of any disaster or calamity (Standard 3) and quality issues related to design and response (Standard 4). These four standards together with the remaining ones related to performances, transparency (Standard 5) and aid worker performance (Standard 6) provides a framework to reflect how disability can be mainstreamed in any post disaster management.
Were PLWDs fully consulted or involved in the planning of the relief efforts?
Was a balanced representation of vulnerable groups, including PLWDs in any post disaster emergency meetings?
Were any comprehensive assessment specifically design to understand the needs, material and psychological of PLWDs carried out?
Was any response clearly designed with keeping in mind the unique situations and circumstances of PLWDs?
Does the Government know that the disability is extremely diversified sector with multiple and different needs?
Any rights based approach to disabilities is focused on empowerment but the same word empowerment is often hard to be translated in concrete actions.
How can we really ensure that PLWDs are empowered in post disaster emergencies when they have been left out of the mainstream society in so called normal times?
Most of the PLWDs are citizens living in high level of vulnerability, deprived of equal opportunities without mentioning the extremely inaccessible spaces in our cities.
Livelihoods and income generation opportunities together with a more responsive and inclusive learning system remain key to translate rights of PLWDs into concrete actions in the long term.
Fortunately even in this emergency we have clear evidence that it would be a mistake to define PLWDs only in terms of their deprivation and vulnerability and lack to opportunities.
We have extraordinary examples of citizens who have been taking the lead to provide relief and emergency aid to hundreds of people no matter them being persons with or without disabilities.
In a fully equal society it should not really matter that these amazing example of active citizenship were carried out by PLWDs. Sagar Prasai for example has been personally very active to provide relief to different earthquake stricken areas of the country.
The same can be said for Sristi KC with Blinds Rock or the incredible and amazing Adhikari Brothers of the Bright Stars Society or Umesh Shrestha, a young visual impaired social entrepreneur that is trying to help and support his working peers.
These are few examples makes total injustice to other incredible but untold stories of civic heroism by PLWDs in time of natural calamity.
It is high time we celebrated these stories while we try to address the core issues that mark disability as a social stigma and a source of deprivation not only for PLWDs but for the entire country. Still too few understand the economic potential of a more inclusive society.
The government should come up with a special relief package for persons living with disabilities taking into account all types of disabilities, including mental health.
At ENGAGE we got overwhelmed by requests of support by persons living with disabilities distressed and in dire needs because of the earthquake.
Demanding special action in special times would not be enough to address the living conditions of persons living with disabilities.
We need to think on the long term, we need to think about their psychological and personal wellbeing when the emergency will be over. Change can start during the emergency but efforts must be protracted and must continue on the long run.
Only perseverance, commitment and the work of a coalition of willing can bring systematic change in the disability sector. We need to be ambitious and think big.
Special on job trainings, tailored made working quotas in the private and public sector, entrepreneurship funds together with a more generous welfare package and specific actions in the educational sector that is still incredibly inaccessible and unresponsive to special needs of children with disabilities, should be the top priority of a National Empowerment Plan for Persons living with disabilities.
The emergency we are all facing can kick off a renewed interest not only on the needs but also on the aspirations, dreams and capabilities of persons living with disabilities.
This daunting task should not be simply left to the incredible movement of disable people run organizations already active in the country. The entire nation should embrace disability rights and make Nepal a more inclusive country.
Simone Galimberti is Co-Founder of ENGAGE and Editor of Sharing4Goods
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