UN disabilities expert urges more inclusive approach across ‘peace continuum’

NEW YORK (21 October 2021) – The scourge of armed conflict disproportionally affects people with disabilities, a UN human rights expert said today, calling on States to ensure that people with disabilities are fully included in a range of strategies and processes through all the dimensions of conflict.

In a report to the General Assembly (also available in Easy-to-Read format), the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Gerard Quinn, said that the visibility and inclusion of people with disabilities across the ‘peace continuum’ was uneven, particularly with respect to conflict prevention, peace-building and reconciliation. 

“Some progress has been made towards inclusive humanitarian action in the past couple of years, but much still needs to be done,” he said. 

“It is incumbent upon States to ensure disability inclusion throughout the entire peace continuum. There is a need to undertake deliberate conversations on how to achieve disability inclusion and to develop concrete recommendations for effective action. 

”However, in certain laws and policy areas, such as international criminal law for example, there is almost no visibility or attention given to people with disabilities, and this contributes to continued impunity for crimes against them,” he said.
Quinn reminded the international community that Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities dealing with situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies establishes a strong bridge to connect disability rights with all points along the ‘peace continuum.’   

His report builds on the historic UN Security Council Resolution 2475 (2019) which recognizes that full adherence to international humanitarian law includes respecting the rights and specific needs of people with disabilities. 

“Together with the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, it explicitly requires to recognize, include and protect the rights of people with disabilities throughout the peace continuum,” he added. “It is time to take this seriously.”

ENDS

Mr. Gerard Quinn, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, is part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.