Welcome to the DRG Monthly Newsletter!

©David Constantine

Dear DRG Members,

September and October have been busy months for all of us, with humanitarian emergencies across the world continuing to impact communities, including persons with disabilities.

In this context, it is essential that persons with disabilities are engaged as partners in humanitarian response. In this newsletter we share a number of updates highlighting that participation by persons with disabilities in humanitarian action is increasingly being prioritized. At a global level, the 27^th session of the CRPD Committee concluded in September, with the release of a session report chapter on the situation in Ukraine, and announcement of an upcoming general Comment on article 11. This newsletter also includes various new resources for humanitarian actors and reports and statements on the situation in Ukraine and in Pakistan.

We hope you find this edition of our newsletter useful and remind you to please share any updates of interest to DRG members, for inclusion in upcoming editions.

Elham Youssefian (International Disability Alliance)

Christian Modino Hok (CBM Global)

Kirstin Lange (UNICEF)

by UN Special Rapporteur - Gerard Quinn

In this report, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Gerard Quinn, examines the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of military operations. The report focuses on the implementation and application of obligations under international humanitarian law towards persons with disabilities during the conduct of hostilities.

by GDS, IDA, NORAD, FCDO

by the CRPD Committee

by the CRPD Committee

At its 27^th session, the CRPD Committee announced the adoption of the “Chapter on the situation of persons with disabilities in Ukraine and in countries where they have fled after 24 February 2022, as a result of the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation” . This report is based on input from various stakeholders and is a chapter of the 27^th session report, as well as being published separately.

by IDA

by DTM and Partners Toolkit

IOM has released a video on ‘data and information for disability inclusion in emergencies’. This video provides information on what data is needed to plan and implement a disability inclusive humanitarian response, and how to collect this data. The video is intended for information management and disability inclusion experts working in emergencies.

by IDA

IDA has released a statement calling on the government of Pakistan, the United Nations, the international humanitarian community, and donor agencies to ensure maximum inclusion of persons with disabilities in the humanitarian response to the floods in Pakistan. Organizations of persons with disabilities must be involved in response planning, implementation and monitoring as the most competent people to ensure a rights-based approach and full inclusion of persons with disabilities.

by UNHCR

Additionally, this Facilitator’s Guide includes five interconnected modules with session objectives, learning points, activity descriptions and tools to support UNHCR Country Office staff and partners in facilitating workshops on strengthening the protection of persons with disabilities.

by HI

by IDA & UNHCR

Between November and December, as part of their strategic partnership, UNHCR and IDA are launching a webinar series to provide organizations of persons with disabilities as well as displaced and stateless persons with disabilities a platform to enhance their understanding and engage in interactive dialogue on means to enhance protection and participation of persons with disabilities under UNHCR's mandate.

Captioning, International Sign interpretation, as well as interpretation to French, Arabic and Spanish will be provided for all webinars.

Register to the Webinars below.

> Webinar 1: November 1, 2 pm - 3:30 pm CET

> Webinar 2: November 14, 2 pm - 3:30 pm CET

> Webinar 3: November 21, 2 pm - 3.30 pm CET

> Webinar 4: November 28, 2 pm - 3.30 pm CET

> Webinar 5: December 5, 2 pm - 3.30 pm CET

by WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization in saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

Career opportunities that change lives and save lives. 
Join their mission to end world hunger.

Please share any feedback you may have on the content and format of this Newsletter with us. You can send any material you want to be included in the next issues of the Newsletter by the last Monday of the month via email [email protected]