Child protection
During humanitarian crises, children are more exposed to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Their protection may beweakened as families are put under additional strain and community networks break down. The impact on children with disabilities can be especially marked, because they are subjectto stigma and discrimination and may have less access to coping mechanisms. As a result, they are at higher risk of rightsviolations. According to the former Child Protection Working Group, “exclusion fundamentally affects the development of achild's full potential-Excluded children are more vulnerable to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect. Humanitarian crisesand responses can make cycles of exclusion worse or can offer opportunities for change.”
Studies indicate that children with disabilities are three to four times more likely to be survivors of violence than childrenwithout disabilities. Further, some forms of violence are specific to children with disabilities. Examples include violence administered underthe guise of treatment to modify behaviour, forced sterilization of girls with disabilities, or enforced abortion.
In line with the definition in Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a child is defined as a personunder 18 years of age.
The CRC sets out four principles on the rights of the child, which also apply in humanitarian action:
- Survival and development. Humanitarian workers must consider how an emergency and the response to it affect the development of children.
- Non-discrimination. Humanitarian workers must address patterns of discrimination and power in the response.
- Child participation. Humanitarian workers must enable children to meaningfully participate in all stages of humanitarian preparedness and response.
- Best interests of the child. The best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children.
Child protection-related risks and impacts
- In many countries, children with disabilities are frequently placed in institutions, where they are at risk of abuse, exploitation and neglect. Such facilities often have low standards of care and lack monitoring. Perpetrators of violence and abuse are rarely held to account.
- Placement in residential facilities also increases the risk of trafficking of children with disabilities. Studies have found that girls with disabilities are at risk of being trafficked because their impairments are presumed to limit their chances of escape.
- In sub-Saharan societies, myths that body parts of persons with albinism have magical powers have led to attacks and mutilation, primarily of children with albinism.
- Children with disabilities are particularly likely not to be registered at birth. This increases their exposure to risks, including child marriage and statelessness, and can block their access to education, health care and other basic services.
- Children with disabilities who have become separated from caregivers are especially endangered. Family members may have been the only persons to know how to care for a child's specific physical requirements or how to communicate with a child. Children with disabilities may be unable to communicate information that is essential for family tracing and reunification. Unaccompanied children with disabilities may be excluded from traditional systems of care if local families do not accept them.
- Girls with disabilities are at risk of gender-based violence, including rape, sexual exploitation and abuse. This in turn may expose them to HIV and severe neglect. Although research on this issue is limited, girls with disabilities are also at higher risk of child and forced marriage.
- Children with disabilities may be engaged in hazardous child labour including the worst forms of child labour, such as prostitution and begging.
- Children with disabilities, especially those with intellectual disabilities, may be more likely to be recruited into armed groups.
The following guidance will support humanitarian actors working in child protection to identify and remove barriers facedby persons with disabilities, as well as their families, support persons and caregivers, when they try to access child protectionprogrammes in humanitarian settings.