International Disability Alliance (IDA) and International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) – Joint Submission to UK International Development Committee inquiry on the impact of Coronavirus on developing countries around the world and the UK response

April 16th 2020

1. The International Disability Alliance (IDA) are an alliance of networks that bring together over 1,100 organisations of persons with disabilities and their families from across eight global and six regional networks. The International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) is a grouping of civil society organisations working together to promote promoting inclusive international development and humanitarian action.
2. IDA and IDDC welcome the UK Parliamentary Inquiry into the impact of Coronavirus around the world and the UK government’s response.
3. As the International Development Committee has noted previously[1], disability is a critical development issue. It is therefore vital that the current inquiry explores and highlights the impact of Coronavirus on persons with disabilities in developing countries. We are concerned that the scope of the current inquiry does not recognise the particular and disproportionate impact of Coronavirus on persons with disabilities, nor the need to ensure that the response to the pandemic is disability inclusive.
4. Many persons with disabilities in developing countries live in poverty due to high levels of discrimination; inequality; barriers accessing education, health care and employment; vulnerable livelihoods and inadequate social protection.
5. These circumstances are exacerbated by disasters, including the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic[2].Persons with disabilities are therefore being disproportionately impacted by the Coronavirus[3].
6. Many persons with disabilities are at risk of developing severe cases of Coronavirus due to ongoing health conditions. In many developing countries hygiene measures required to keep the virus at bay – such as handwashing, sinks and pumps – are inaccessible. Social distancing is also difficult to maintain as many people with disabilities require regular care which is disrupted by quarantine measures that have left individuals isolated and unable to access their right to daily support[4].
7. Persons with disabilities in many countries are also being left unaware of the latest public health measures and social curfews, as many governments and institutions are not ensuring communications are accessible. There are also a lack of protocols to ensure emergency health provision, relief and testing is being carried out in an accessible and inclusive way[5].
8. There are also reports from various countries about practices of de-prioritising persons with disabilities in accessing medical triage as well as withdrawing life-saving equipment and support. This is of utmost concern.
9. These forms of discrimination are denying persons with disabilities their rights during the pandemic – and contributing to dangerous narratives that persons with disabilities cannot contribute to the response, make their own decisions, and most worryingly, their lives are not worth saving compared to others – in direct contradiction to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities[6] and other human rights instruments.
10. The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities has raised the alarm by flagging that persons with disabilities continue to be excluded from mainstream development programmes and humanitarian response, and that “little has been do so far to provide people with disabilities with the guidance and support needed to protect them[7]”.
11. Given the current context it is vital that the IDC and the UK government recognises addressing the rights of persons with disabilities will be central to the overall success of its response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
12. The UK government should therefore work with its development partners to ensure that:
13. All emergency and pandemic responses mainstream disability inclusion – to protect persons with disabilities and their right to access relief, essential services and health care.
14. The rights, perspectives and leadership of persons with disabilities are accounted for through effective consultation with organisations of persons with disabilities, community groups and inclusive assessments.
15. Persons with disabilities – particularly people who may experience multiple forms of discrimination including women with disabilities and older persons with disabilities – are represented on emergency response and decision-making bodies at local, regional and national levels.
16. All health facilities and quarantine centres are accessible and persons with disabilities can access health and emergency provisions when required.
17. All public health and emergency communications are accessible and available in multiple formats to ensure all people can understand and act on essential advice.
18. Where appropriate incorporate targeted measures to ensure persons with disabilities have continuation of essential care within curfews and provide sufficient support for people with complex needs[8].
19. Address all forms of discrimination in health care, institutions and emergency provision and ensure all public communications do not discriminate or reinforce harmful stereotypes of any group, including persons with disabilities.[9] 
20. Use and generate up to date data and information in order to allow for targeted measures and ensure resources are allocated appropriately.
21. Ensure the rights of persons with disabilities are systematically accounted for in any funding that is re-distributed to address the impact of the pandemic in an inclusive way.
22. Ensure persons with disabilities play a central role in all post-pandemic recovery planning, including in addressing the long-term socioeconomic impact of the crisis, and ensuring that persons with disabilities have appropriate access to economic opportunities and social protection measures.
23. Influence the international community to take the opportunity to learn from this pandemic and work together to remove barriers to health care, emergency response and end all forms of discrimination so that persons with disabilities never again experience the human rights violations that are occurring on a daily basis throughout this pandemic.

For further information please contact:

Vladimir Cuk, Executive Director, International Disability Alliance: vcuk@ida-secretariat.org

Dominic Haslam, Chair, International Disability and Development Consortium: dhaslam@sightsavers.org

Angelique Rubin-Hardy, Coordinator, International Disability and Development Consortium:  coordinator@iddcconsortium.net

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