The European Parliament adopted a resolution on how to build an “innovative humanitarian aid strategy: spotlight on current and forgotten crises” in November. The report underlines the importance of:
- putting in place better preventive action,
- improving resilience and increasing the capacity to respond to emergencies, focusing on inclusion and protection of at-risk groups.
The report includes strong references to persons with disabilities and gender mainstreaming.
References to persons with disabilities
The European Parliament took an ambitious position to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian aid, in line with our demands.
The report:
- Asks the Commission to strengthen the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 to ensure that the requirements of persons with disabilities are effectively addressed in EU-funded humanitarian aid.
- Asks the Commission to better assess, address and monitor the needs and effective access to humanitarian assistance of the “most vulnerable groups”, particularly persons with disabilities and persons and intersectional vulnerabilities.
- Demands collection of disaggregated data about persons with disabilities in humanitarian contexts, promoting the use of the Washington Group Short Set of questions.
- Asks the Commission to consult civil society and organisations representing persons with disabilities at all stages of the preparation of the strategy, emphasising the need for early consideration and dedicated budgets in all planning and decision-making stages.
- States that efforts to address current and future humanitarian challenges must be guided by a conflict-sensitive and people-centred approach. This approach needs to address the diverse humanitarian needs of all people and communities, especially women, children and persons with disabilities, and ensure the protection of their rights under international humanitarian law.
- Underlines the challenges that persons with disabilities and minorities face when accessing humanitarian assistance due to marginalisation, active targeting on the ground or their weak socio-economic position.
- Encourages the use of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s disability marker to track the progress made in humanitarian action.
- Calling on the Commission to support the European External Action Service in updating the EU guidelines on children and armed conflict and ensure their implementation.
The report also takes an intersectional approach by stating that existing structural gender inequalities are exacerbated during crises and that, therefore, women and girls, as well as the most marginalised groups that suffer different and intersecting forms of discrimination – such as persons with disabilities – are disproportionately affected by conflicts, natural disasters, or climate change hazards.
What is missing?
While this report shows a very positive evolution, we note that the following key areas are not listed:
- Mainstreaming – Persons with disabilities share the same fundamental humanitarian needs as the broader affected population. Consequently, all mainstream service providers must ensure full accessibility for persons with disabilities in all activities, such as the provision of food, water, and shelter.
- Reasonable accommodation – Along with accessibility, there must be a dedicated budget for the provision of reasonable accommodation in the delivery of humanitarian aid and inclusive consultation/planning. Without this, barriers will remain for many people.
- Training – For inclusive policy to be effectively implemented, disability inclusion must be an explicit part of the regular training of staff of humanitarian organisations.
More information
Learn more about EDF’s position on disability-inclusive humanitarian action
Contacts
For more information, please contact Giulia Traversi Delpozzo, EDF Humanitarian Policy Officer: giulia.traversi@edf-feph.org