Within humanitarian programming, all actors have a responsibility to ensure that that protection considerations are at the centre of their actions and that the needs of all people are taken into account in their response. Shelter and settlements activities in particular can play an important role in safeguarding the health, security, privacy and dignity of people affected by disasters and crises, but we know that these activities still do not systematically include persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities not only have the same rights to and need to benefit from shelter assistance as everyone else as reinforced under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), but are also often disproportionately affected in emergency situations, making the imperative to deliver inclusive shelter and settlement programming even more important. 

Persons with disabilities are estimated to represent 16% of the world's population, a figure that is likely much higher in humanitarian settings. This stream of the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion CoP will provide specific guidance and peer to peer support around disability inclusion.

For disability inclusive shelter and settlements resources, visit the All Under One Roof: Disability Inclusive Shelter and Settlements in Emergencies Hub. On this page you will find the online guidance, with downloadable checklists and case studies. There are also additional documents on the former Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Shelter and Settlements working group page. 

The Shelter section of the CBM Humanitarian Hands-on Tool is also very useful. 

As persons with disabilities include “persons who have long-term sensory, physical, psychosocial, intellectual or other impairments that, in interaction with various barriers, prevent them from participating in, or having access to, humanitarian programmes, services or protection”, the workstream will necessarily include all of these factors. A recent focus from the Global Shelter Cluster is on the connection between shelter and mental health, as it is widely acknowledged that the access to safe and dignified Shelter and Settlements and adequate living conditions have a strong impact on people’s mental health.

For broader resources around disability inclusion, visit the Disability Reference Group website. This is a space where humanitarian and disability rights communities can connect and access information and resources. 

For specific technical guidance and advice you can contact the disability inclusion technical experts that support the CoP: 

Humanity and Inclusion: Nicholas Winn

CBM: Emma Pettey or the Global Inclusion Advisory Group