Why are the guidelines important?

Persons with disabilities are estimated to represent 15 per cent of the world's population.1 In humanitarian contexts, they may form a much higher percentage. They are among the most marginalized people in crisis-affectedcommunities2 and are disproportionately affected by conflict and emergency situations. In disasters, their mortality rate is two to fourtimes higher than that of persons without disabilities.3

Persons with disabilities are not a homogeneous group. They are diverse in their experience, in the ways that attitudinal,physical and communication barriers impede their participation and inclusion in humanitarian action, and in their identity,including their age, gender, ethnicity, location and race. Due to the intersectionality of these factors, persons with disabilitiesface greater marginalization and discrimination. During humanitarian crises, for example, children with disabilities are athigher risk of abuse and neglect, and women with disabilities are at higher risk of sexual violence.4

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Diagram 2 Global population of persons with disabilities5

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Diagram depicting prevalence estimates of persons with disabilities:

  • 15% of the world's population have a disability
  • 1 in 5 women is likely to experience disability during her life
  • 46% of persons aged 60 years and over have a disability
  • 1 in 10 children is a child with a disability.

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