War, Armed Conflict & War, Armed Conflict & DisabilityDisability

ChChallenges, Statistics, allenges, Statistics, FactsFacts

Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on DisabilityOffice of the UN Special Rapporteur on DisabilityDjerba, TunisDjerba, Tunis

October 24, 2007October 24, 2007

ContentsContents1.1. Definition of conflictDefinition of conflict2.2. Types of conflictTypes of conflict3.3. Size of conflict worldwideSize of conflict worldwide4.4. Characteristics, tools & conflict Characteristics, tools & conflict

arenasarenas5.5. Relationship between conflict and Relationship between conflict and

disabilitydisability6.6. Effects of conflict on individual Effects of conflict on individual

safety, health, wellbeing and safety, health, wellbeing and developmentdevelopment

7.7. Rehabilitating & improving the Rehabilitating & improving the lives of persons disabled by armed lives of persons disabled by armed conflictconflict

1.1. Definition of ConflictDefinition of Conflict

Conflict is a human phenomenon, Conflict is a human phenomenon, a social process which has been a social process which has been going on since the dawn of going on since the dawn of humanity.humanity.

2. Types of Conflict2. Types of Conflict

a.a. Regional warsRegional wars

b.b. Civil warsCivil wars

c.c. Social violenceSocial violence

d.d. Family violenceFamily violence

e.e. Terrorist attacks Terrorist attacks

33 . .Size of ConflictsSize of Conflicts

The world spends over 839 billion dollars a year on conflicts, arms and equipping armies

Landmines and random explosions result in the largest number of disabilities caused by wars and armed conflicts

3. 3. ContinuedContinued There is in the world today more than 65

active conflicts in all regions of the world Modern conflicts encompass cities, human

settlements & urban centers The increase in the number of victims of

conflict is proportional to the increase & variety of conflicts

Populations of Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Guatemala, Lebanon, Sarajevo, Sudan suffer the greatest consequences of landmines in the world

3. 3. ContinuedContinued 1/3 of the world spends more on their 1/3 of the world spends more on their

military budget than they do on medical military budget than they do on medical servicesservices

In June 2002 the G8 agreed to allocate 22 In June 2002 the G8 agreed to allocate 22 billion dollars to stop terrorism & weapons billion dollars to stop terrorism & weapons of mass destruction, but no actions were of mass destruction, but no actions were taken on small weapons and handgunstaken on small weapons and handguns

World estimates put the number of child World estimates put the number of child soldiers used in different conflicts at soldiers used in different conflicts at 300.000 children300.000 children

3. 3. continuedcontinued Africa, Asia & Latin America spend more

than 22 billion dollars a year on weapons—the same amount needed to reach the targets of the Millennium Development Goals

There are more than 639 million individual arms and light weapons manufactured by 1135 companies in 89 countries

A great percentage of the funds that should be used in development are used to fund conflicts

33. . continuedcontinued Over 8 million new weapons & small arms Over 8 million new weapons & small arms

are produced annually 60% of which end are produced annually 60% of which end up in civilian handsup in civilian hands

16 billion units of ammunition are 16 billion units of ammunition are produced annually—i.e. two units (bullets, produced annually—i.e. two units (bullets, bombs…) for every man, woman & child bombs…) for every man, woman & child on the planeton the planet

By the year 2020 more people are By the year 2020 more people are expected to die as a result of armed expected to die as a result of armed conflicts & war than from all other causesconflicts & war than from all other causes

Highlights of the results of conflict Highlights of the results of conflict in Lebanonin Lebanon

Lebanese army reports in June 2005 put the number of landmines victims since 1970 at 1835 deaths and 2140 injured with permanent disabilities

There are half a million landmines and one million cluster bombs scattered in 155 Lebanese villages in Southern and Eastern Lebanon. These have resulted in 224 victims since July 2006 to this day.

Highlights of the results of Highlights of the results of conflicts in Iraqconflicts in Iraq

2003 estimates put the number of individual arms in Iraq at 24 million pieces, enough to arm every Iraqi man, woman & child

Landmines & random explosions constitute the main threat to Iraqi civilians causing to date between 15-20,000 disability a year

4.4. Characteristics, tools & arenas Characteristics, tools & arenas of armed conflictsof armed conflicts

Characteristics of conflict: Expansion of the areas of conflict Globalization of conflict Intensity of conflict Variety of tools used Greater powers of destruction Greater harm to persons,

environment, way of life

5. Relationship between armed conflict 5. Relationship between armed conflict & disability& disability

There is a direct correlation between armed conflict & disability

Dealing with the results of a few minutes of conflicts can take up to 10 years and cost several million dollars

In as much as wars & armed conflicts lead to disability, persons with disabilities are in turn more likely to become victims of violence due to their disability

Children & women with disabilities are often more vulnerable in times of armed conflict

5. continued5. continued In addition to traditional wars

between nations, civil wars & armed conflicts between local factions, cluster bombs, landmines and terrorist attacks are the principal cause of disability among civilians in most countries

66 . .Effect of armed conflict on the Effect of armed conflict on the health, safety, wellbeing, health, safety, wellbeing,

developmentdevelopment Violence is one of the main

contributors to disability The world needs intensive awareness

raising programs on the effects of violence

Persons with disabilities are more likely to be victims of violence, abuse and exploitation

Violence remains one of the main Violence remains one of the main threats to the safety, development threats to the safety, development and wellbeing of childrenand wellbeing of children

War, terrorism, domestic violence, War, terrorism, domestic violence, neglect, confessional/sectarian neglect, confessional/sectarian violence, organized crime constitute violence, organized crime constitute major threats to civilians, particularly major threats to civilians, particularly children & women across the worldchildren & women across the world

57,000 children die every year due to 57,000 children die every year due to violence & armed conflict, according violence & armed conflict, according to WHO. to WHO.

For every child that is killed as a result of armed violence, 100 children are left with permanent, life-long disabilities

In many countries persons with disabilities are the victims of hate crimes, racial conflicts & racism

In many countries children & persons with disabilities are forced into lives of begging on the streets

In many countries children with mild or intellectual disabilities are victims of sexual exploitation & trafficking

77 . .Challenges of rehabilitation in face of Challenges of rehabilitation in face of violent conflictviolent conflict

1. Rehabilitation:

a process aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to reach & maintain their

optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, social functional levels,

providing them with the tools to achieve higher levels of independence

……RehabilitationRehabilitation

2. Rehabilitation is a right for every individual with disability regardless of the type and degree of their disability

3. Governments, organizations & communities are required to ensure the provision of appropriate rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities

3.3. Wars & armed conflict situation also Wars & armed conflict situation also produce invisible psychosocial produce invisible psychosocial disabilities resulting from trauma.disabilities resulting from trauma.

4.4. Left untreated trauma will result in Left untreated trauma will result in permanent and debilitating permanent and debilitating disabilitiesdisabilities

Depression & Post Traumatic Stress Depression & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Disorder (PTSD)

A 1996 study has found that depression & A 1996 study has found that depression & PTSD will become the second leading PTSD will become the second leading cause of disability in post-conflict cause of disability in post-conflict countries. (Murray & Lopez)countries. (Murray & Lopez)

Rehabilitation for PTSD has been on the Rehabilitation for PTSD has been on the assumption that the effects are transitoryassumption that the effects are transitory

Studies show that for displaced & refugee Studies show that for displaced & refugee populations PTSD is long-lasting & requires populations PTSD is long-lasting & requires on-going rehabilitationon-going rehabilitation

……Depression & PTSD Depression & PTSD

Prevalence of depression among Prevalence of depression among populations that have experience populations that have experience armed conflict is 60-70% as opposed armed conflict is 60-70% as opposed to 10-20% in non-conflict countriesto 10-20% in non-conflict countries

People who have suffered physical People who have suffered physical disabilities due to war require disabilities due to war require rehabilitation services at all levels rehabilitation services at all levels

5. Measures necessary for successful 5. Measures necessary for successful rehabilitationrehabilitation

1.1. At the national level:At the national level:• Adopting clear policiesAdopting clear policies• Enacting legislationsEnacting legislations• Implementing programmesImplementing programmes• Allocating financial resourcesAllocating financial resources• Training personnelTraining personnel• Making rehabilitation services accessibleMaking rehabilitation services accessible• Involving disabled persons organizations Involving disabled persons organizations

Rehabilitation Services should include:• All persons who need it• All types of disabilities• All socio-economic groups• All racial groups• All geographic areas• All religions, denominations, sects• Refugees & displaced populations