THE END PAGE .................................................................................................44

CRPD Advocacy ToT Training Supported UNSOM HRPG 2019

3.0 Assessment Goal and Purpose

The assessment aimed at identifying the disparities and gaps “of agencies and DPOs that provide services to people with disabilities to better serve their members. The report presents our findings from the study conducted as part of the formative evaluation and routine monitoring with input garnered predominantly from other DPOs and service providers in the country. The study report will be an asset and resourceful source of information for funding partners, donors, decision makers and stakeholders of the Somalia humanitarian aid and development agencies in coordination, implementation, mainstreaming and aligning their work in the country.

3.1 The Survey Specific objectives:The specific objectives of the study were:(i) To recommend inclusive actions to be prioritized by humanitarian actors. (ii) To ensure that DPOs and PWDs have increased, equal and sustained access to humanitarian assistance and support from national and INGO partners. (iii) To assess other humanitarian needs for DPOs and PWDs in Somalia (iv) To share the outcome of the assessment with relevant authorities and Humanitarian Cluster Partners for better humanitarian decision making for response to fill the existing humanitarian disparity gaps.

These objectives were defined by SDC in the context of projects funded by the National, INGOs and Humanitarian Assistance Partners in Somalia. The survey aimed to empower non-state actors to un-discriminatively support DPOs and PWDs across all the regions in Somalia

3.2 Location and Scope of the Study

The Study focuses on Disabled People Organizations, Internally Displaced People and People with disabilities in South and Central regions of Somalia in respect to the Disparity in Humanitarian Aid for the last five (5) years between 2016 – 2021. Although the study was conducted in the two mentioned regions, the methodology used made it possible for the results to be generalized to all other regions of Somalia, thus informing humanitarian disparity response programming on DPOs and people with disabilities.

3.3 Study Methodology

This descriptive report presenting the situation of DPOs and Persons with Disabilities in various locations in Somalia including IDPs is meant to raise the plight of the disability people and members of their families in the country. The report was collected through direct communication call and indirect communication through referral information from different sources the DPOs, members of the PWDs activists, service delivery agents and non-disabled sector working organizations based in the country both at local and international level through email communication and reports’ reviews.

3.4 Survey Design

The study employed cross-sectional study design. With the purpose of reaping the benefits of exploring range of information and generating data that can be complemented and/or triangulated quantitative data collection method which incorporated qualitative sections in the tool employed. A total of 26 IDP camps in different parts of South and Central regions of Somalia and 21 Displaced People Organizations (DPOs) respondents participated in the study. These participants were randomly selected.

3.5 Selection of Respondents

A probability sample selection method was used, in which the sample was obtained by selecting every element of the population.

3.6 Ethical Consideration

The data collection team deployed to the field introduced themselves, explain the purpose of the assessment study and obtain the willingness of respondents. In every engagement / meeting with participants, respect was given to local cultures and norms, meeting places was selected as per participants consent, and every participant was kindly requested to provide their genuine opinions / ideas. Finally, when respondents finished their points, the data collection teams extended their gratitude to respondents for their time and effort in providing data for the assessment survey.

Local Charity initiatives support Iftar ( Breakfast) of the PWDs in the IDP camps in Mogadishu

4.0 Report Situational Analysis and Findings

During our routine fact finding mission in consultations with the DPOs, IDP camps and community members carried out between in the months of July – August, 2021, we noted a number of Humanitarian Disparities among DPOs and PWDs as explained in our report.

Comprehensive information on the number and situations of DPOs and people with disabilities in Somalia is lacking. However most estimates suggest that it is likely to be higher than the global estimate of 15% as a result of the long period of conflict, poverty, and lack of access to health care. Lack of data on disability in Somalia has contributed to limited awareness of disability issues among policy makers, planners, community leaders, services providers and the general public.

There is no specific national legal or policy framework regarding persons with disabilities. The provisional federal constitution provides equal rights before the law for persons with disabilities and prohibits the state from discriminating against them, although authorities have not enforced these provisions. People with disabilities experience stigma in Somali society and disability is considered a very shameful and sensitive topic. Disability is

generally associated with physical impairments rather than other types of disabilities, and intellectual disabilities are especially taboo.

There is no specific healthcare or financial support system for disabled people in Somalia, increasing their dependence on others and making independent life difficult. There are significant barriers to the political participation of people with disabilities. People with psychosocial disabilities, or mental health conditions, often face arbitrary detention, chaining, verbal and physical abuse, involuntary medication, overcrowding and poor conditions in institutions; or chaining at home, due to lack of appropriate government supported community based services. Children and adults with all types of disabilities have often not been included in programmes aimed at supporting people in Somalia, including humanitarian assistance. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) with disabilities have been victim to multiple forced evictions which makes it harder for them to maintain their livelihoods, amongst other things. Some IDPs with disabilities have banded together for security and mutual assistance.

There is an active disability movement in Somalia which has advocated for the rights of persons with disabilities. Other local NGOs provide services for people with disabilities such as disability centres, schools for children with hearing and visual impairments, and assistive devices. However, they have received negligible support from local and national authorities, as well as the international community.

4.1 The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional protocol were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2006. The convention aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others. CRPD was ratified by Somalia in the year 2019, however, Article 17 which states that: Every person with disabilities has a right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity on an equal basis with others has remained an illusion. Despite this attention, widespread discrimination and human rights abuses continue at an alarming rate. At least 90% of PWDs in the developing world are denied the right to education, PWDs are disproportionately likely to live in poverty and in some countries where under-five mortality as a whole has decreased to below 20%, and mortality among young children with disabilities is as high as 80%. In addition, a study conducted in the USA found that out of 3,000 children who had been maltreated, children with speech and language difficulties were at five times greater risk of neglect and physical abuse than other children and at three times greater risk of sexual abuse.

Discrimination on the basis of disability concerning education, food, security, the right to play and the right to participation as well as sexual, emotional and physical violence against PWDs remains largely undisclosed and unseen in Somalia. Looking through the results of this study, we can see that this is a large, pervasive issue in Somalia.

In more humanitarian and emergency contexts within Somalia, abuses against PWDs could be exacerbated and compounded. Whether through conflict or natural disaster, abandonment and increased risk of death are very real possibilities for all PWDs. Every organization working with PWDs in Somalia has a responsibility to ensure their facilities and services cater for persons with mental, intellectual, sensory and physical disabilities. The discrimination and violence which people with disabilities face are too great to be ignored, as is the potential percentage of the population facing these abuses.

Therefore, programs need to follow the principle of universal design, ensuring accessibility to all PWDs, rather than viewing working with persons with disabilities as a wholly specialized skill-set. By viewing persons with disabilities as needing only specialized support, actors are excluding PWDs further and ignoring/exacerbating their protection concerns. Besides extreme exclusions, PWDs are often denied protection and accessibility to their rights on par with other

people in less visible ways. Programs and policies focusing on PWDs rarely include PWDs either implicitly or explicitly. However, PWDs will be found in any such groupings. Although there are various international standards that recognize the rights of PWDs, they remain a group that seems largely forgotten or overlooked, and therefore excluded, from general developmental and humanitarian work.

In Somalia more needs to be done. SDC hope that through this report, we can inspire more action from donors, INGOs, NGOs and the Government to ensure that DPOs and PWDs no longer remain invisible but rather their protection and equal recognition become a core component of working on any program or policy addressing PWDs, with a particular focus on their protection.

4.2 National Disability Census in Somali

There is no reliable data on the number of people with disabilities in Somalia, so estimates must be drawn from global prevalence and the context of Somalia, as a country affected by on-going conflict that holds a low human development rating. WHO estimates that 15 per cent of the global population has a disability and that 80 per cent of those people live in developing countries. It is likely that Somalia’s rate is closer to 20 per cent due to conflict-related disability and environmental factors, and that most families will have at least one member with a disability.

4.3 External Actors’ Roles and Commitment

As applied in this context, the external actors includes the international DPOs and organizations who have been in the forefront advocating and lobbying for the inclusion and advancements of PWDs rights and issues in local and international laws and conventions.

These actors have made commendable efforts and commitments towards Somalia humanitarian and development agendas in various forums on matters on humanitarian aid,

WASH, Cash voucher, emergency education, health care, rehabilitation, mobility support, livelihood support, technical vocational support, employment, protection and gender based violence, etc.

In the recent past, the external actors have successfully organized some of the following forums aimed at lobbying, advocating and sensitizing the local communities, governments, national and international humanitarian partners on the need for an inclusive and consultative approach to humanitarian aid and support to DPOs, PWDs and other vulnerable groups such as IPDs, refugees, etc across Somalia.

4.4 World Humanitarian aid submit 2016 Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

We, the signatories of this Charter1 , reaffirm our determination to make humanitarian action inclusive of persons with disabilities and to take all steps to meet their essential needs and promote the protection, safety and respect for the dignity of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters.

We are witnessing the highest level of human suffering since the Second World War. This is why the former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened the firstever World Humanitarian Summit to generate commitments to reduce suffering and deliver better for people caught in humanitarian crises, and to demonstrate support for a new Agenda for Humanity. The Summit took place in Istanbul on 23-24 May 2016. It brought together 9,000 participants representing 180 Member States, including 55 Heads of State and Government, hundreds of civil society and non-governmental organizations, and partners including the private sector and academia. Together, they generated more than 3,500 commitments to action and launched more than a dozen new partnerships and initiatives to turn the Agenda for Humanity into meaningful change for the world's most vulnerable people. The Platform for Action, Commitments and Transformation was created to host these commitments and as a hub to track progress and change beyond the WHS.

4.5 The Global Disability Summit 2018

The Global Disability Summit 2018 (GDS18) was an expression of that momentum, energizing new leadership and concrete actions on disability inclusion as well as enabling people with disabilities to voice their rights. During the summit, decision makers from around the world made ambitious commitments to bring about real and lasting change for people with disabilities and put them at the centre of their work. ‘ This included game-changing commitments from across the UN system, International Financial Institutions, the private sector and from governments all around the world. Many were new actors who had not prioritized the rights of people with disabilities ever before. The Summit resulted in 320 organizations and governments signing up to the Charter for Change aimed at driving implementation of the UNCRPD.

4.6 Doha International Conference on Disability and Development (DICDD) 2019

Qatar Foundation for Social Work (QFSW) launched the “Doha Declaration” at the closing ceremony of the Doha International Conference on Disability and Development (DICDD). The two-day conference, which attracted more than 1,500 policymakers and practitioners, took place at the Qatar National Convention Center under the theme: "Leaving No One Behind". The Doha Declaration on disability and development sets out an action-oriented approach that Qatar hopes will be an international reference point for world governments to integrate the rights of persons with disabilities into their national development plans. The aim was to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities are included in policies related to education, health, employment, and other relevant areas.

4.7 London Somalia Conference 2017

On 11 May 2017, the UK hosted a major international conference in London, to accelerate progress on security sector reform, build on the international response to the ongoing drought and humanitarian crisis, and agree on the new international partnership needed to keep Somalia on course for increased peace and prosperity by 2020.

The conference agenda included and deliberated on the following issues:-

4.7.1 Improved security

Improving security is vital to preventing the return of open conflict across Somalia, and for enabling its broader political and economic development. The Conference focused on the Somali security architecture that the federal government must agree with the federal member states including what the future of the Somali National Army should look like, and how to counter terrorism while protecting human rights.

4.7.2 Political reform and governance

The Conference delivered on increased commitment from the international community on political reform and governance, to help build a more inclusive, federal and democratic state setting a clear path towards one-person, one-vote elections in 2020. It also brought federal and regional leaders together to agree on the necessary constitutional reforms to work together more effectively, address revenue mobilisation and resource sharing, and to create the right environment for growth.

4.7.3 Economic development

Supporting Somalia’s economic recovery is a shared priority: a stronger economy that offers Somalis livelihoods, jobs and generates domestic revenue is essential to Somalia’s sustainable development and stability. The Conference secured commitments from the government, Somali private sector and international donors to work together to deliver a focussed set of economic recovery priorities in the coming years.

4.7.4 Humanitarian response

At a time when half the Somali population were without reliable access to food, the Conference was also an opportunity to step up the international response to the ongoing drought and humanitarian need. Continued international support was and still needed to prevent widespread famine, without which the political and security progress Somalia has made since 2012 could be set back.

4.7.5 New Partnership for Somalia

The Conference also agreed on a New Partnership for Somalia between the international community and Somalia that sets out the terms of international support for Somalia’s transition to a more peaceful and prosperous country by 2020, including on issues such as elections, constitutional arrangements, economic development and commitments to tackling corruption. This partnership was based on the principle of mutual accountability. In addition to proceedings, there were a number of side events. These covered themes such as the contribution of the Diaspora and civil society to Somalia, progress in accelerating Somalia’s economic recovery, and supporting refugees and their host communities in the region.

4.7.6 The 17 Goals Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030)

During the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20, Member States agreed to launch a process to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), whose achievement period concludes in 2015. The SDGs are to address all three dimensions of sustainable development (environmental, economic and social) and be coherent with and integrated into the United Nations global development agenda beyond 2015. The envisaged SDGs have a time horizon of 2015 to 2030. Disability is referenced in various parts of the SDGs and specifically in parts related to education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, as well as data collection and monitoring of the SDGs, for instance:-

a) Goal 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of life-long learning opportunities for all focuses on eliminating gender disparities in education and ensuring equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities. In addition, the proposal calls for building and upgrading education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and also provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

b) In Goal 8: to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, the international community aims to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

c) Closely linked is Goal 10, which strives to reduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities.

d) Goal 11 would work to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable. To realize this goal, Member States are called upon to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities. In addition, the proposal calls for providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for persons with disabilities.

e) Goal 17 stresses that in order to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development, the collection of data and monitoring and accountability of the SDGs are crucial. Member States are called upon to enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), which would significantly increase the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data that is also disaggregated by disability.

BOX 5. OCHA one Message Humanitarian Principles.

All OCHA activities are guided by the four humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. These principles provide the foundations for humanitarian action. They are central to establishing and maintaining access to affected people, whether in a natural disaster or a complex emergency, such as armed conflict. Promoting and ensuring compliance with the principles are essential element s of effective humanitarian coordination.

1. Humanitarian principles govern humanitarian actors’ conduct. 2. Humanitarian actors must engage in dialogue with all parties to conflict for strictly humanitarian purposes. This includes on-going liaison and negotiation with non-state armed groups. 3. Our compliance with humanitarian principles affects our credibility, and therefore our ability to enter into negotiations with relevant actors and establish safe access to affected people. However, it is not enough to repeatedly recite humanitarian principles.

Rhetoric must be matched by leadership and practice. In other words, humanitarian actors must “walk the talk 4. There are multiple pressures on humanitarian actors to compromise humanitarian principles, such as providing humanitarian aid as part of efforts to achieve political ends.

Maintaining principled humanitarian action in the face of these pressures is an essential task, but not an easy one

5. 0 Sample Demographics

IDPs Participants

In total, a population of 5,006 people from the IDP camps participated in the study. Salient characteristics of the sample are as discussed below.

5.1 Gender breakdown

The majority of respondents (62.9% or 3150 people) are male. While 37.1% or 1856 people are female. The predominance in the sample may explain some additional demographic characteristics, including the fact that most women (female) are normally out of their households during the day looking for menial jobs to feed their families.

Gender breakdown Male Percentage (%) 62.9

Female 37.1

Percentage (%)

Male Female

37%

63%

5.2 DPOs Participants

A total of 5200 people from the 21 DPOs participated in the study. These respondent based different locations in different region with same characteristic and conditions as PWDs and DPOs suffering discrimination, humiliation, abuses and deliberate violation of their rights and role in the social and political in Somalia.

5.3 Gender breakdown

The majority of respondents (55.7% or 2900 people) are male. While 44.3% or 2300 people are female.

Gender breakdown Male Percentage (%) 55.7

Female 44.3

Percentage (%)

Male Female

44%

56%

5.4 Characteristics of respondents

The respondents of the survey were the non-state actors and community based organizations for the PWDs. And the IDP camps of the disability people and members of their families who share same plight and problems. The respondent made informative input which can be resourceful for the donors and government to take action on the ground for the situation of the PWDs.

5.5 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) IDP Camps

A total of 26 IDP camps from different parts of the south and central Somalia regions, were visited during the study and responded on various sectors and areas of humanitarian assistance to Somalia DPOs, IDPs, government, etc and the findings were as tabulated below:Sector / Area of Support Positive Response / Yes Negative Response / No

Humanitarian Aid Support Accessibility NFI Support Accessibility WASH & related support accessibility Cash Voucher Support Accessibility Education Support Accessibility 3 23 1 25 0 26 0 26 1 25

FBV & FGM Support Accessibility

0 26 Security Light & Protection wall and gate building support 0 26 Protection, Advocacy and Awareness w/shops support accessibility 0 26 Livelihood & Income Generation Support Accessibility 0 26

30

25

20

15

10

5

0 Positive Response / Yes Negative Response / No

5.6 Disabled People Organizations (DPOs)

A total of 21 Disabled People Organizations (DPOs) from the regions of South and Central composed of local and international organizations participated in the study and responded as tabulated below:-

DPOs’ Status

Registered organizations Good management capacity Sound financial management capacity Good donor communication capacity Good proposal writing skills DPOs with International registrations DPOs with Audited Financial Statements/ Reports # of DPOs with Positive Response / Yes

# of DPOs Negative Response / No 14 7 12 9 9 12 15 6 9 12 3 18 5 16

20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 # of DPOs with Positive Response / Yes # of DPOs Negative Response / No

5.7 Humanitarian Aid Assistance

Humanitarian assistance provided to DPOs appears, in the best-case scenario, to be very limited and insufficient if not none at all. Participants DPOs mentioned that very minimal if any assistance was provided. Among the participated DPOs in the two regions of South and Central, no assistance has been provided to DPOs according to participants. This was confirmed to be so because of these reasons among others:-

▪ Corruption ▪ Injustice ▪ Tribalism or clannism ▪ Discrimination Participants complained that decisions on humanitarian assistance are made by the national government and INGOs, without hardly any interaction and involvement of Disability People Organization’s representatives. Participated DPOs shared their feeling that the exclusion is because of their status.

5.8 Economic exclusion

The study revealed that economic dominance is one of the most serious socio-economic problems facing the DPOs, IDPs, PWDs and other marginalized and vulnerable groups. Since independence, the major clans at the expense of minority groups have dominated social and political affairs of Somalia. This trend has continued more than twenty years after the collapse

of the Somali state. Remittances have also been, for the last decade, an important economic source for the Somalis. However, remittances have had little impact on the livelihoods of this group.

5.9 Access to shelter and housing

Poor shelter and housing is another major concern of the group noted in these two regions and the whole Somalia. It is caused mainly by:▪ Poverty – as they cannot afford to purchase building materials and instead use scavenged metals, sticks and plastics. ▪ Land issues – they lack access to land on which they can settle and construct shelters.

Instead, they congregate in congested places and in abandoned public buildings. ▪ Sale of shelter materials – they sometimes sell shelter materials provided by aid agencies as a result of extreme poverty

5.9.1 Access to Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water

Sanitary conditions in most visited areas, particularly the IDP camps are very poor. There are very few latrines, most of which need rehabilitation. Regarding access to safe, drinking water, poverty plays a significant role. Access to clean drinking water is a big problem.

5.9.2 Access to Health Care

DPO members, PWDs and other vulnerable groups experience numerous difficulties when it comes to accessing health care services. These are some of the main impediments faced by the group:▪ Conflict and insecurity makes it difficult for aid agencies to access vulnerable communities. ▪ Lack of adequate information regarding the health status of minority groups. ▪ Lack of adequate transport infrastructure including land routes and water routes. ▪ Insufficient numbers of health centres including MCHs and TB clinics in minority areas. ▪ Minorities in urban areas observe that their concerns are not given much consideration when establishing health centres.

5.9.3 Access to Basic Education

In spite of the gradual reestablishment of the educational system and programmes in Somalia, the IDPs and other marginalized and minority children have very limited opportunities for basic education. Most minorities children do not go to school but instead work in order contribute to the family income and ration. This is yet another indication of how poverty affects access to basic needs.

Every year hundred million dollars is spent in Somalia for education development by the international donors, local and international NGOs and federal state and federal government ministries. These huge amounts are invested in the country’s education infrastructures, construction of new schools in the urban and non-urban and the rehabilitation of the schools destroyed in the decades of the war in the country.

Education infrastructure equipment takes the second largest amount of money where hundreds schools are equipped every year in the country for the public schools under the control of the government, federal states and local authorities in the region in Somalia. Majority of these schools are located in the urban areas with relevant stability and security accessible education for ten thousand. These schools are equipped with school furniture, learning materials, books pens and technology innovation for learning.

Education curriculum development and research takes the smallest percentage amount of money allocated for education development in Somalia. Teachers’ training allocation was very minimal and low in the country for the last decades where majority school teachers are not qualified.

Most schools share common problems of lack of professional skills as untrained teachers are serving in the profession. The study revealed that most secondary students in Somalia can hardly read and write English language while some have no idea or knowledge about the civic education in the country.

Major education fund goes to emergency education support for the displaced people in the country. 2.5 million IDPs in more than 1000 locations in various regions in the country with hundreds of thousands children majority being of school going age. In every 4 year new project for hundreds millions is announced where huge amount of investment is allocated, however, these planned projects never gets finished. In some cases the funds remain in the account without being expensed. Such projects include “One million Go To school project and many other project”.

5.9.4 Technical vocational skills training

The European Union Delegation to the Federal Republic of Somalia launched a €5.17 million project to support the Federal and Federal Member States Ministries of Education to deliver equitable and inclusive quality education for the population. In Somalia, the EU supports education reforms through its bilateral cooperation portfolio where education and training has been identified as a priority sector. With a portfolio of € 60 million, the European Union is substantially involved in the positive education trends that have emerged in Somalia over the recent years.

5.9.5 Livelihood

The major humanitarian aid respond is livelihood for the people affected the disasters and poverty. Emergency food aid distribution is made every year in the country with tens of thousands beneficiaries. The PWDs are left behind at the planning time for the distribution. Sometimes the gate keepers in the distribution refuse the PWDs access to receive aid thus denying them their rights. Mainly the local authorities staff and security bush back the PWDs from the gate saying (we have no role of the PWDs) besides, cash voucher for the IDPs and vulnerable people. The PWDs are excluded from the beneficiaries’ lists. The coordinating teams have tile of activity which makes separate from

the PWDs. Every year tens of thousands people receive new cash voucher. So far there is no single project or program serving PWDs for cash voucher.

5.9.6 Community Based Rehabilitation Services (CBRS)

CBRS for the disability people is very essential for the millions PWDs in the Somalia community both in the urban and non-urban areas. Access to mobility support for the people with permanent disability is very difficult in the areas covered by the survey. Lack of distribution of artificial limbs, wheelchairs, crutches, white cane and hearing aids, assistive tools and technology is impossible in these areas. Majority of the PWDs can’t avoid paying the expensive costs of the commercial services. Lack of orthopaedic and physiotherapy is key problems for the preventable disability mainly the VA victim assistance the people who suffer wounds from the bullets, accidents, explosives and landmine in the urban area and non-urban areas.

5.9.7 Counselling Services

Counselling services for the community is at risk as a result of lack of resources for disability people. Both the victims and non-victims need counselling offered at both public and private entities. IEDP centre provide volunteer services for the disability prevention advises for the families. In particular occasions the festivals where children are at risk for use of gun toys that causes tens of persons wounded in the eyes with plastic round bullets exchange the children in the IEDUL- FITRA and IEDUL_ADHA being the two most respected festivals in the Islamic calendar.

5.9.8 Lack of health cover and emergency support services

Lack of health cover and emergency support services for the PWDs is at risk for the people who sustain wounds in the suicide attack bombs in the public places in the country. Majority of the suicide attach and landmine cause victims who need emergency aid. There is single unit for the victim assistance support facility in the area. Notably some victims without families in the areas of the accident die from preventable cases for lack of coordinated services.

5.9.9 Child friendly spaces and facilities

These are very important for the recreational of the children with disabilities and members of families of children without disabilities. The facilities should not be particular for the CWDs children with disabilities. In public child friendly spaces and public gardens there exists environmental barriers that prevents the CWDs from enjoying the facility and get recreational support as well as the moral healing and support for the CWDs. These are sources of motivation that may inspire the CWDs accessibility for all. And the realization CWDs free from barriers.

5.10.0 Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID -19 waves has made huge impact in Somalia. The covid-19 wave one (1) hit the country in 2020 engulfing the lives of hundreds people including the PWDs. Mr. Omar Gabow died in Martini Hospital for lack of fresh air and gas that could have saved his life. A shocking case that left horror and fear among the members of PWDs. As a result, DPOs members made mask production facility that produced 4,000 masks in one month with the support from IRISE through DALBILLE project supported by UNFP. Currently covid-19 wave two exists causing deaths of more people every day. The wave has left PWDs and CWD traumatized and dejected as their livelihoods have also been destroyed.

BOX 6. The Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in EU-funded Humanitarian Aid Operations

In order to ensure that these commitments are turned into reality, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, announced in December 2017 that, as of 2018, all EU-funded humanitarian partners would be required to take the needs of persons with disabilities into account in their projects. This guidance developed by the European Commission's humanitarian affairs department (Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations – DG ECHO) is conceived as a tool to reach this goal. The main objectives of this guidance are more specifically:

• To foster disability inclusion, i.e. the effective access and participation of persons with disabilities13 in humanitarian aid • To ensure mainstreaming of disability, i.e. the process of incorporating protection principles and promoting meaningful access, safety and dignity of persons with disabilities in all EU-funded humanitarian operations.14 • To provide DG ECHO partners and DG ECHO staff with the operational tools to ensure the above in the design, implementation and monitoring of EU-funded humanitarian projects.

BOX 7. International humanitarian law (IHL)

In armed conflict, IHL provides general protection to civilians and persons hors de combat, including persons with disabilities, ‘without adverse distinction’ (discrimination).12 The prohibition of adverse distinction permits humanitarian actors to prioritize persons with disabilities and may even require them to take specific measures to do so. Humanitarian relief efforts must make sure, for example, that food, water, health care, rehabilitation and shelter are available and accessible to persons with disabilities. Provisions of IHL may also be used to prevent or minimize harm to persons with disabilities during hostilities. Recognizing that persons with disabilities

Masking up the Vulnerable Program PWDs produced 4,000 renewable local made mask in Mogadishu

6.0 Conclusion

Somalia Disabled People Organizations (DPOs) are scattered in the country across the regions and districts. Most of them are based and operationalized in Benedir region the Capital city of Somalia Mogadishu with population of more than 3 million people approximately 20% of the PWDs. Thus making the region most in need of any available humanitarian aid for the DPOs in the region.

The situations of the PWDs is challenging with disability, discriminative environment and lack of national strategic plans and census referral data. The PWDs in the IDP camps suffer abject poverty, lack of basic need for the life. The exclusion of humanitarian aid respond in the field is factor the plight of the PWDs in the camps. Violation of the international humanitarian aid principles increased the elegancy. Lack of CRPD skills is another source contributing the discrimination in the humanitarian aid.

The current intervention in the country so far reported to the PWDs and DPOs directly is very little compare the huge money invested humanitarian aid in the country. despite, the hundred local and international NGOs enjoying the partnership of the Somalia humanitarian aid investment and grant the DPOs is zero level where the assessment missed single active partnership with DPOs on the ground.. the only direct aid and partnership for the Somalia DPOs came from the Abilis Foundation that supports tens of projects ever year. The only partners that support DPOs is SCI Save the Children International with limited support for DPOs capacity people through TOFI project. That has employed zero from the PWDs

During disaster outbreaks such as drought, PWDs and members of their families are normally faced with dilemmas ranging from displacements, droughts, long distance

challenges, flooding, vulnerability without support and protection, etc. In conflict situations, members of the PWDs suffer life threatening risks where the visual impaired people and the deaf face death in the line of fire between the two armed groups. The rebelling parties at times kill some of these people deliberately under the pretext of suspecting agent or spy from the enemy. In some other cases they suffer shots from fair range of sight.

Exclusion the DPOs and PWDs in the Somalia humanitarian aid work is violation of key articles in the CRPD the Article 4 General Obligations, Articles 5 Equality, Article 11 inclusive and Article 31 cooperation’s. Article 24 Education, Article 25 Health, Article 26 habitation and retaliation, Article Work and employment, , Article 28 Adequate standard of living and social protection, , Article 28 Participation in political and public life Article 30 Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport Article 31 Statistics and data collection Article 32 International cooperation article 33 National implementation and monitoring

Discriminative decision making in the civil society lead the PWDs and DPOs invisible in the round table where the actors in these tales lack the role of the PWDs and DPOs who may put in valuable information in the round tables. An informative source of the situation of the PWDs is major failure of the humanitarian aid and development in the country. The international community has clear mandate for the PWDs and DPOs in their countries, where in Somalia some of them neglect these obligation protecting the PWDs and DPOs cooperation in their work and programs.

BOX 8. HI Scope of action

1. HI delivers emergency preparedness, and humanitarian programming which is inclusive of persons with disabilities in line with its organizational commitments and policies. This encompasses all sectors, such as emergency health services; water, sanitation and hygiene services; shelter, food security and livelihood; and protection against violence and discrimination. 2. HI collects and shares evidence relating to vulnerability and discrimination encountered by persons with disabilities and explores approaches to building resilience through applied research, and by collecting and analysing accurate data on children, women and men with diverse disabilities. 3. HI analyses organizational structures, humanitarian strategies, data systems, programs and services to identify gaps and entry points to catalyse the change process. 4. HI provides capacity building and technical advice to humanitarian actors and people with disabilities at global, regional and national level to design and deliver humanitarian aid and policies inclusive of children, women and men with diverse disabilities. 5. HI empowers organizations and local structures representing people with disabilities to meaningfully participate in the humanitarian response.

7.0 Recommendations and Way forward

In 2021, while humanitarian agencies continue to do all that is possible to alleviate suffering and save lives, an estimated $1.09 billion will be needed to respond to the needs of people in Somalia. The international humanitarian community will continue to work closely with local authorities, national NGOs and civil society organizations to ensure local resources cover the priority needs of all people identified to be in need of humanitarian assistance.

The main recommendations on how to include partnership the DPOs the Disabled People Organizations and PWDs persons with disabilities in humanitarian and development programmes in Somalia are suggested as below. These recommendations should be applied across various sectors, including but not limited to: water, sanitation and hygiene; food security and livelihoods; shelter and settlements; health care; Education, Livelihood, etc.

the way forward recommendation goes to a three key parts of Somalia stakeholders the government, the civil society and the international community, who have collective and individual responsibilities for the protection of the Somalia PWDs and DPOs rights and role in the humanitarian aid, development and human rights protection and political participation in Somalia.

7.1 To the Somali Federal stats and Federal Government:

▪ Strengthened linkages and complementarity between humanitarian and development programmes and activities in the country.

▪ Strengthened individual DPOs’ capacity to manage disasters and their ability to cope with humanitarian aid need wave for the PWDs and members of their families

▪ Strengthened humanitarian protection services by preventing and responding to pervasive protection violations against DPOs, vulnerable groups, including minorities,

IDPs, refugees, returnees and women, children and the elderly

▪ Ensure DPOs and PWDs receive protection from the state, in line with obligations under international human rights law, and commitments under the CRPD and PWDs’ policy;

▪ Ensure persons with disabilities are given the opportunity to participate and actively engage with decision-making processes, particularly those that affect them, including in the on-going constitutional review process and in drafting legal and policy frameworks,

service provision, and government approaches regarding persons with disabilities, in line with international commitments;

▪ Develop national laws that guarantee increased protection for persons with disabilities in line with international standards, and a national policy to ensure these guarantees are put into practice;

▪ Prioritise the provision of appropriate and accessible services for persons with disabilities in line with the Somali government’s commitment to provide equal access to economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination. Use maximum available resources, including through international cooperation, to fulfil the right to adequate housing, prioritising persons with disabilities and others who are vulnerable to discrimination.

▪ Carry out substantive baseline information gathering on the demographics and rights situation of persons with disabilities, including in any on-going or future profiling or census exercises, to inform effective and appropriate legislative and policy responses;

▪ Ensure immediate and concrete steps are taken to prevent all forced evictions including those of persons with disabilities. And the confiscation of the public and private lands for the disability

▪ Ensure there are specific focal points relevant ministries including the Prime Ministers’

Office to ensure disabled people can access their rights; and the nomination of Senior

Consultant for the disability in the office of the prime minister, office of the president and legislation

▪ Ensure there is a focal point within the future human rights commission and the antcorruption commission to ensure disabled people can access their rights;

▪ In sure the implementation of the CRPD in the federal state and federal government and the legislation for the protection of the disabled people rights protection and promotion.

▪ Extend an open invitation to UN and African Commission on Human and Peoples’

Rights

7.2 To the International Community/ Donors:

▪ Support the Somali Federal Government in developing a national legal and policy framework to ensure promotion and the respect for the equal rights of persons with disabilities;

▪ Facilitate disabled persons’ organisations to actively engage with the Somali Federal

Government, and in decision making processes, particularly those that affect them, for example, the development of laws, policies, service provision and government approaches regarding persons with disabilities.

▪ Donors who are parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) have the obligation to mainstream disability in their assistance programs. As such, donors should ensure that programs and services supported take into account the needs of DPOs and PWDs and such funding is monitored and reported.

▪ In addition, donors should be guided by the various recommendations pertaining to disability rights under the Universal Periodic Review, as well as the recommendations of the Independent Expert on Human Rights in Somalia, which falls under the Human

Rights Council’s Technical Cooperation agenda.

▪ Mainstreaming the Somalia donors support the disability with allocation of ration of the special need education, rehabilitant, CRPD implementation, environmental protection the housing the public infrastructures.

▪ Utilization of the Somalia Disability Partnership strategy, work plan and policy protection the role of the PWDs and DPOs in the decision making tables for the donors.

7.3 To the International Community and the United Nations:

• The UN Secretary General’s 2019 UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) requires UN entities to prioritize inclusion of disability within their programming and particularly in their support to Governments.

• The UNDIS is monitored through an accountability framework. As such, the UN in Somalia needs to examine existing programmes and identify areas in which disability inclusion should be strengthened to ensure that effective support for

DPOs and PWDs

• Insure SDG 2030 the Sustainable Development Goals. Under the United Nation programs. the commitment of Leaving No One Behind, for the humanitarian aid the development.

• The UN OCHA office coordination Humanitarian aid should utilize inclusive for all humanitarian aid development partnership strategy to insure the inclusion of the PWDs as beneficiaries and the DPOs as partners

• Insure the Somalia Humanitarian Fund SHF largest partnership platform should be inclusive for with members of the PWDs benefiting directly and indirectly their programs and apply the international Humanitarian aid precepts

• Insure the UNICEF Somalia protection of the children with disabilities from the neglected care, treatment and prevention of the preventable disabilities. And the free education of the children with disabilities

• Insure the UNFPA work in Somalia to be inclusive for all on the ground not leaving behind the vulnerable people the disabled people and members of their families and mainstreaming their partnership the disability.

• Insure the cash voucher program in Somalia to give priority the PWDs and members of their families access the cash voucher distribution in the IDP camps of the disability and the centre of the DPOs.

• the UNDP Somalia office should insure mainstreaming disability in its overall work in Somalia development and state building programs

• UNMAS should insure the operationalize of the VA victim assistance in Somalia

BOX 9. Mainstreaming disability inclusion across DFID’s work

The Department for International Development should maintain its focus on embedding disability inclusion as a key element of designing and implementing all aid programmes alongside dedicated projects focusing on specific disability issues. Future strategy must be informed by a stronger evidence base and aim towards more ambitious targets. Robust accountability mechanisms, including systems of regular reporting, should be put in place so that delivery can be better assessed. It should align with and complement global strategies to combat poverty and improve disabilityinclusive development, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the recent UN Disability Inclusion Strategy

8.0 Assessment Key Partners

The production of this report has been made possible through the volunteer work of members of the PWDs, DPOs and Networks. They have dedicated their time and resources to ensuring logistics, fieldwork, analysis, publication and drafting of the report. The joint effort from materialized into this informative report aimed at guiding relevant agencies and institutions on planning and management of PWDs and DPOs issues.

8.1 Institute of Education For Disabled People – (IEDP)

IEDP was instrumental in masking-up the vulnerable people from the effects and spread of the covid19. The team from IEDP assisted in the distribution of 4,000 pieces plus locally made masks to PWDs in the IDP camps and host communities in various villages of Mogadishu. This important initiative was supported by the IRISE HUB through DALBILE youth development project in Somalia which is part of the EU and UNFPA funded program. A project that employed disabled youth (male and female). The first production totalling 1,300 pieces was distributed to the Dayah disability development organization based in Dharkenley district and the Koorsan IDP camp based in Wadajir district Mogadishu Banadir region in Somalia.

8.2 Aid the Disability Organization (ADA)

ADA is based in Sweden and London. The organization made distribution for wheelchairs in Galkacyo town Galmudug Federal state of Somalia in the year 2016 for the mobility support for 500 persons. The team opened vocational skills training in town supporting members of the disability to learn mobile repair, welding and computer literacy.

8.3 Somalia Disability Rights Advocacy (SODRA)

The organization is based in Kismanyo the capital city of Juboland and focuses in the areas of Education, Humanitarian and Advocacy. In the period under review, the organization made emergency food distribution for the disabled people in the regions and districts outside Kismanyo. The organization has also made NFI distribution for the disabled people in IDP camps in the area with the support of the members’ contributions and the diaspora for 1,200 people in the last years of 2018 and 2019.

(8.4 Somalia Association Female Disability (SAFDI)

The organization is based in Mogadishu. SAFDI conducted COVID-19 prevention measures by advancing video clip work in the country for the PWDs. The organization made FGM prevention and advocacy on the 8th of March, 2020. SAFDi worked with members’ contribution and support from the UNSOM HRPG. The members of the organization and females with disabilities activists participated in the National disability agency board and the federal parliament election candidate.

8.5 Middles Shabelle Disability Network (MSDN)

MSDN is based in Jowhar the Capital city of the Hirshabelle state, MSDN managed to organize disaster affected people with cash money distribution for 700 families as a donation for local people and victims of the floods in the 2021. The DPOs in the region supported the PWDs and those affected by locust wave that swept the farms and the environment in the regions. Hundreds of famers from the PWDs made their complaints

about the damages from the natural disasters and requested the international donors for support and emergency aid.

8.6 Southwest Somalia State Disability Network (SOWSODIN)

SOWSODIN is based in Baidoa. The organization has been instrumental in making primary emergency education support to the disabled children in the region of Bay. The members of the network opened Baidao school for the disability which is now operational with limited support from the CARE International. Members of the PWDs in Bay and Bakool made farmer cooperative in the year 2016 with support from Fursad Fund. The project was responsible for water mill and seeds distribution. This made the distribution of vegetables to the markets in Baidao the interim capital city of the South West Sate Somalia.

8.7 Somalia Disability Network

The Network is based in Mogadishu with 14 members organization and 21 Members organization serving the PWDs rights protection, health care, education, shelter, development and the political participation. The network and member DPOs made their contribution to the report with direct and indirect contacts the responded in variety areas in Somalia. The network has made several report and capacity injection training for the DPOs and PWDs.

BOX 10. UNITED NATIONS DISABILITY INCLUSION STRATEGY

The organizations of the United Nations system commit, through the policy, to accelerating efforts to support the achievement of the inclusion of persons with disabilities and their human rights through the practical implementation of the globally agreed commitments contained in the United Nations treaties, conferences and summits and their follow-up, in particular the 2030 Agenda; the Sendai Framework; the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development; the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III); the multiple resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council; and the World Humanitarian Summit; as well as other agreements that may be adopted in the future

Through the Strategy, the United Nations system will systematically embed the rights of persons with disabilities into its work, both externally, through programming, and internally, and will build trust and confidence among persons with disabilities to ensure that they are valued and their dignity and rights are respected and that, in the workplace, they find an enabling environment in which to fully and effectively participate on an equal basis with others.

Mainstreaming a human rights-based approach to disability, in combination with targeted measures, will make the concerns and experiences of persons with disabilities an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that persons with disabilities benefit equally. The ultimate goal is to achieve equality of outcomes and foster an inclusive culture within the United Nations system.

9.0 References

1. Visit https://www.unocha.org/ 2. .https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2020%20Somalia%20Humanitaria n%20Needs%20Overview.pdf 3. https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/eu-announces-517-million-support-educationsomalia 4. .https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/613714/london-somalia-conference-2017-communique.pdf 5. .https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/london-somalia-conference2017/about#contents 6. .https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/760997/Disability-Inclusion-Strategy.pdf 7. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/721701/GDS_Charter_for_Change.pdf 8. https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/wpcontent/uploads/sites/15/2019/11/day2-press-release-en.pdf 9. https://mop.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NDP-9-2020-2024.pdf 10. https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/about-us/sustainable-developmentgoals-sdgs-and-disability.html 11. https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/OOMhumanitarianprinciples_eng_June12.pdf 12. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/international-development-committee-mainstreamingdisability-inclusion-across-dfid-s 13. https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/OOMhumanitarianprinciples_eng_June12.pdf 14. https://www.un.org/en/content/disabilitystrategy/assets/documentation/UN_Disability _Inclusion_Strategy_english.pdf

THE CONTACT Physical Address:

Danwadagaha Street Wadajir District Mogadishu Somalia Email: sdc.somalia@gmail.com Email: info@naafo.org.so Website: www.naafo.org.so Mobile: +252 615907530 Mobile+ 252 615278993