Armed violence and disability: the untold story

Armed violence is described by the OECD as the “use or threatened use of weapons to inflict injury, death or psychosocial harm, which undermines development.” It has a powerful, lasting impact, inflicting severe injuries and leaving behind broken families. Until recently, there was a lack of systematic data to help understand its effects properly. To help fill this gap, a study was carried out in 2011 and 2012 in Colombia, Uganda, Pakistan and Haiti. Researchers surveyed 713 survivors of armed violence, conducted 128 key informant interviews with local leaders in security, government, civil society and the media, and documented the stories of 12 other survivors.

The report, a snapshot of the devastating consequences of armed violence on people and their families, highlights a clear link between armed violence and disability. Survivors of armed violence with lasting impairment and medical conditions face many barriers in living their daily lives, especially those who live in marginalised, neglected and dangerous areas. Every day, they are confronted with the increasing difficulties created by their new conditions, including the negative impact on their psychological well-being. Limited assistance for long-term health and rehabilitation, a lack of economic support and social participation exacerbates their exclusion.

Over 80 per cent of survivors interviewed sustained lasting impairment, with loss of function in either upper or lower limbs, including spinal cord injuries. Their injuries resulted in reduced economic opportunities and subsequent economic and social exclusion, with survivors experiencing negative impacts on their household income and livelihood. The effects of this were multiplied if survivors had dependants in their household.

The research also found that armed violence frequently diminishes the subsistence and educational opportunities available to survivors and their dependants, leading to difficult changes in social dynamics within their families and communities.

Furthermore, although the services available to survivors were predominantly related to immediate health care, long term rehabilitation and support was not available. The costs of hospital treatment, inaccessible care and ignorance of available services were major barriers to accessing care. There was limited government assistance either available or accessible, including justice systems. Follow up health care was also extremely inadequate, so families bore the burden of responsibility to help.

Despite the completion of this research and its important contribution to knowledge of armed violence and disabilities, more needs to be done. There remains a lack of empirical evidence on the scope, characteristics and  impact of armed violence on livelihoods and disability. This report represents only the tip of the iceberg, and building more evidence is essential in order to develop sound, reality-based policies.

(For additional information, comments and to receive a copy of the report, please contact: rashmi.thapa@handicap.be)