Persons with disabilities

Forced displacement disproportionately affects persons with disabilities. They are often at higher risk of violence, and exploitation, face barriers accessing basic services, and are often excluded from education and livelihood opportunities.

At UNHCR, we work to ensure people with disabilities have access to vital services and have the opportunity to apply their skills and capacities to benefit themselves, their families and their communities.

In this section:

Training package: Strengthening protection of persons with disabilities in forced displacement

The World Health Organization estimates that around 15 per cent of the world’s population has a disability. Several million are thought to be displaced but often remain invisible within uprooted communities.

Persons with disabilities are not a homogenous group – they have different capacities and needs, and contribute in different ways to their communities. In times of crisis, they may be at heightened risk of discrimination, exploitation and violence, and face numerous barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance.

At UNHCR, we work to ensure women, girls, men and boys with disabilities have access to vital services and have the opportunity to apply their skills and capacities to benefit themselves, their families and communities.

We work around the clock to identify the issues they face and develop long-term solutions.

UNHCR Policy and Guidance

People with Disabilities - Reports and Documents

Working with Persons with Disabilities in Forced Displacement

International Disability Alliance: Recommendation to Include a Stand-Alone Paragraph on Refugees with Disabilities in the Global Compact on Refugees

International Disability Alliance

Forced displacement and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas: perspectives of Syrian women refugees in Lebanon

Ms. Alma Taslidžan Al-Osta, Humanity & Inclusion

UNHCR's Good Practices

Reports and Resources I

Reports and Resources II

Global sites

Regional sites

Country sites