New Writing International

Forced Migration Review issue 35 — to be published in June 2010 — will include a feature on ‘Disability and displacement’.

Deadline for submission of articles: 31 January 2010.

See website for full details.

Refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) with disabilities are some of the most neglected and socially excluded groups within any population. With a major feature section on disability and displacement, FMR 35 aims to challenge and help empower the international community to respond to the needs and rights of disabled refugees and IDPs.

This issue of FMR will provide a forum for practitioners, advocates, policymakers and researchers to present case studies from around the world which reflect needs and concerns, debate approaches and initiatives, present examples of good practice, and offer recommendations for action. In particular, the FMR Editors are looking for practice- and policy-oriented submissions, reflecting a diverse range of opinions, which address questions such as the following:

• What obstacles do displaced people with disabilities face in accessing services and opportunities, including education, employment, justice, water and sanitation, health, training and livelihoods? How can access be improved?
• How do different types of disability affect the level and quality of provision of assistance?
• How are the experience of disability and the provision of assistance affected by age and gender?
• What additional or particular protection challenges confront displaced people with disabilities, especially women and girls? How can these challenges be met?
• How can agencies meet the challenge of lack of data on disabled people when planning emergency interventions and recovery programmes?
• What steps have been taken to develop and implement improved methods for identifying disabled refugees and IDPs, collecting data and assessing needs? What are the gaps and how can they be filled?
• Are there any differences in the challenges and risks faced by disabled people in the rural compared to the urban environment? How are difficulties in identification and assistance exacerbated or created in an urban setting? How can we make sure protection and assistance programmes address both situations?
• How can disabled people be more widely included in camp management and in community organisation and assistance programmes?
• How do we protect disabled people who are left behind when their care-providers and families are displaced? What happens to disabled people during the course of displacement?
• What policies exist in relation to durable solutions for disabled refugees? Can having a disability improve one’s chances of resettlement?
• Do UN agencies and NGOs take account of any physical barriers to access that displaced people with disabilities might experience when visiting their offices? How good are the local employment practices of UN agencies and NGOs?
• What international policies and tools exist for improving awareness of and response to the needs of displaced people with disabilities? What impact has the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities had since it came into force in May 2008? How is it being applied to refugee contexts?
• What mechanisms exist to encourage governments to ensure that appropriate legislation and policies exist and are implemented, and that rights are respected, protected and fulfilled?
• What needs to happen to improve disability awareness and to mainstream disability within the humanitarian cluster system?
• How can we support displaced persons as agents of care, concern and accompaniment for those among them who have disabilities?
• How does the use of language impede progress towards wider inclusion and integration of displaced people with disabilities?
• How do attitudes stemming from cultural or religious beliefs reinforce myths, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination against disabled people?
• How have educational and economic programmes successfully targeted and included disabled refugees and IDPs? Which programmes provide examples and models for successful inclusion and participation? How have the skills, experiences and talents of displaced people with disabilities been successfully tapped and utilised?

Deadline for submission of articles: 31 January 2010.

Maximum length: 2,500 words.

We are particularly keen to reflect the experiences and knowledge of communities and individuals directly affected by disability.

Please email the Editors if you are interested in contributing or have suggestions of colleagues or others who may wish to contribute. If you are planning to write, we would be grateful if you would take note of our Guidelines for Contributors.

Information about other forthcoming issues of FMR on the website.

Sources of message:

Marion Couldrey & Maurice Herson
FMR Editors
Refugee Studies Centre,
Oxford Department of International Development,
University of Oxford,
3 Mansfield Road,
Oxford,
OX1 3TB,
UK