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Neglected and forgotten: women with disabilities during Covid crisis in India

GOYAL, Nidhi
RAGHAVAN, Srinidhi
KOTHARI, Ketan
July 2020

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This report is a collaborative initiative of Rising Flame and Sightsavers to respond to the urgent needs of women with disabilities in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The aim of this research was to capture and amplify voices and narratives of women with disabilities  and to make strong recommendations to ensure inclusion of women with disabilities in social, legal, policy and systemic responses.

Online and telephonic research consultations were carried out in May 2020,  within the barriers faced or accommodations needed by participants, including access to internet, the need for sign language interpretation and the establishment of a safe space. A total of 82 women with disabilities and 12 experts across 19 states and nine self-identified disability groups participated in the research.

Broadly, the study is divided into access, food and essentials, social protection, health, hygiene and sanitation, education, employment and livelihood, domestic violence and emotional well-being. The study explores the ongoing barriers experienced by women across disabilities and makes recommendations to build back a better and more inclusive world.

What are the key considerations for including people with disabilities in COVID-19 hygiene promotion programmes?

WILBUR, Jane
HUNT, Xanthe
August 2019

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Question & problem

People with disabilities may be more likely to acquire COVID-19, and if infected may be more likely to experience serious symptoms, or die. Aside from those consequences of the pandemic related to morbidity and mortality, people with disabilities are often reliant on carers to aid with common daily tasks, and so social distancing measures may be unfeasible. Furthermore, safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and facilities may be inaccessible to people with disabilities, and, in many settings, efforts to deliver services in a socially-distanced world have resulted in the roll out of digital or remote healthcare approaches which are sometimes not accessible or inclusive. One of the key interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been international attention, and improved funding, programming and media messaging in support of WASH. People with disabilities – who are most at risk of negative consequences of COVID-19 – most need access to such interventions. Yet, WASH access is considered to be one of the biggest challenges of daily life for many people with disabilities.

Pacific regional consultation – IASC guidelines on inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action

DOMINIK, Georgia
January 2018

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The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), in partnership with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Task Team on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action and the International Disability Alliance (co-chair of the Task Team), held a regional multi-stakeholder consultation for the Pacific in Nadi, Fiji from 24 – 25 January 2018.

The workshop was the first in a series of regional consultations which will support the development of the IASC Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action (“the Guidelines”). 

The Guidelines will assist humanitarian actors, governments, affected communities and organizations of persons with disabilities to coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate essential actions that foster the effectiveness, appropriateness and efficiency of humanitarian action, resulting in the full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities and changing practice across all sectors and in all phases of humanitarian action. 

Water justice, gender and disability : South Asian Water Studies (SAWAS), special issues, vol.5, no.4, June 2017

CLEMENT, Florian
NICOL, Alan
CORDIER, Sylvie
Eds
June 2017

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The papers in this volume on gender, persons with disabilities and WASH in South Asia help to provide important pointers on ways forward. A common thread throughout the four articles is that a constellation of challenges still exists, from 'exclusion' through prejudice at different levels, to institutional realities that render policy and other instruments ineffective in practice. In some cases, even, there remains a complete absence of key legal and policy instruments.  

Titles of the articles in this issue are: 

  • Planning for inclusion: exploring access to WASH for women and men with disabilities in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka
  • Breaking down Barriers: Gender and Disability in Access to Agricultural Water Management in Nepal
  • The Gender Gap between Water Management and Water Users: Evidence from Southwest Bangladesh​
  • Are policies enough to mainstream Gender in water and sanitation programs? Experiences from community managed drinking water supply schemes in India

Towards inclusive WASH : sharing evidence and experience from the field

WATERAID AUSTRALIA
July 2012

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"This publication is a record of efforts to achieve equity and inclusion in WASH programming around the world. It includes one keynote paper and 16 case studies from 13 countries. Within its pages there is a clear message that ‘business as usual’ is not sufficient to meet the water and sanitation rights of traditionally excluded or marginalised groups. The case studies are therefore a story of adaptation, of technology, of process and of policy, and innovation to try something new. Many of the case studies are accompanied by supporting materials, including research reports, survey tools and videos. The authors hope these materials will be of use to other practitioners who hope to build on the stories presented in this publication"
Note: full details of each case study are provided on the website

On the right track : good practices in realising the rights to water and sanitation

DE ALBUQUERQUE, Catarina
ROAF, Virginia
2012

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This book presents the discussion and analysis of existing practices in how rights to water and sanitation should be implemented to inspire policy- and decision makers, practitioners, activists and civil society in general to engage with the rights to water and sanitation to assist in the process of ensuring that everyone has access to safe drinking water and sanitation services for all daily personal and domestic purposes.

 

The practices were taken from submissions, consultations and meetings with a range of actors and have been organised into four main types: State actions and the legal and institutional frameworks that promote the realisation of the rights to water and sanitation; financing for the sector; non-State stakeholder practices to promote and protect the rights to water and sanitation; and practices that demonstrate how States and other actors can be held accountable through the monitoring of  water and sanitation services

Global forum on sanitation and hygiene : insights on leadership, action and change

WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION COLLABORATION COUNCIL (WSSCC)
2012

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This report presents a comprehensive work of reference, primarily targeted at WSSCC members, sanitation and hygiene practitioners and policymakers. It seeks to further complement and build upon the Forum report which provides a broad overview of events and key “take-home” messages.  This report is centred upon the key themes of the Forum: leadership, equity and inclusion, behaviour change, accelerating change and partnerships

Water discourse, ableism and disabled people : what makes one part of a discourse?

WOLBRING, Gregor
November 2011

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This article discusses how disabled people are not mentioned and addressed within high level policy documents about access to clean water and sanitation and other water related problems. The article suggests that certain forms of ableism are responsible for the invisibility of disabled people in various water discourses
Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics, Vol 21, No 6

Including disabled people in sanitation and hygiene services

COLLENDER, Guy
et al
June 2011

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"The needs of disabled people in developing countries are consistently overlooked when it comes to providing sanitation and hygiene services. This reality has severe and widespread consequences for the health, dignity, education and employment of disabled people and their caregivers. This briefing note explores these issues and suggests how more and better research could influence policy and improve programmes"
Briefing note

Equity and inclusion : a rights based approach

GOSLING, Louisa
January 2010

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This policy report provides a practical understanding of equity and inclusion aimed to reach out to people who are excluded and marginalised by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) in the world’s poorest communities. The purpose of this framework is to help implement WaterAid’s policy on equity and inclusion. The policy is divided into the following three sections: WaterAid’s position and approach; standards and indicators for equity and inclusion; and an explanation of terms and examples. This document is useful for people interested in international NGO policies on WASH equity and inclusion

Accessibility standards : a practical guide to create a barrier-free physical environment in Uganda

UGANDA NATIONAL ACTION ON PHYSICAL DISABILITY (UNAPD)
Ministry of Gender
Labour and Social Development
2010

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This guide promotes better accessibility for persons with physical disabilities in Uganda by providing information for constructors or developers to build accessible environments. It presents information about how to construct standard ramps, toilets, lifts, road in addition to wells, furniture and more. These accessibility standards are useful for Architects, policy makers and implementers on accessibility requirements during the design and implementation of construction projects

Summary and policy implications vision 2030 : the resilience of water supply and sanitation in the face of climate change

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
UNITED KINGDOM DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID)
2009

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This resource summarises the evidence for the impact of climate change on water and sanitation technologies in the near to medium term. It aims to help policy makers, planners, operators and communities in making practical decisions based on clear criteria, to improve the resilience of their water and sanitation services. It is part of a larger set of materials, including a full technical report and a set of background reports and guidance notes

Right to water and sanitation : moving towards a constitutional guarantee|Visioning and strategy planning meeting report

PILLAI, Meera
2009

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This report explores the right to water and sanitation in India and the different responsibilities and actions among the stakeholders. Based on a workshop, it highlights lessons learned from other rights based approaches, water and sanitation rights in the Indian context and steps for future action. This report is useful for practitioners and policy makers interested in the right to water and sanitation in India

Design for all : implications for bank operations

SNIDER, Harold
TAKEDA, Nazumi
October 2008

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This report proposes universal design (UD), a US term for inclusive design, to be adopted by the World Bank in its infrastructure projects. The benefits and applications of UD are presented, including in water and sanitation, and reasons for its adoption are provided. Case studies illustrate UD applied to developing country contexts. This report is useful for people interested in universal design in developing countries

Global health watch 2 : an alternative world health report

PEOPLE'S HEALTH MOVEMENT
MEDACT
GLOBAL EQUITY GAUGE ALLIANCE
2008

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This second edition of Global Health Watch covers a comprehensive range of topics, including access to medicines, mental health, water and sanitation, nutrition, and war and conflict. It also draws attention to the politics of global health and the policies and actions of key actors

Manual on the right to water and sanitation : a tool to assist policy makers and practitioners develop strategies for implementing the human right to water and sanitation

CENTRE ON HOUSING RIGHTS AND EVICTIONS (COHRE)
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE (AAAS) SCIENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMME
SWISS AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION (SDC)
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME (UN-HABITAT)
2007

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This manual demonstrates how human rights can be applied to the water and sanitation sector. It provides practical guidance for implementation, including explanations of key water and sanitation components, descriptions of practical policy measures, examples of successful policy measures, a checklists for governments and descriptions of contributing individual and community roles. This manual is useful for policy makers and practitioners interested in implementing the human right to water and sanitation

Global health watch 2005-2006 : an alternative world health report

LEMA, Claudia
et al
2005

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This report is the result of a collaboration of leading popular movements, NGOs, activists, academics and health workers. It provides an evidence-based analysis of the political economy of health and health care and challenges policies and initiatives of global organisations including the World Bank, the World Health Organization and UNICEF. Many key issues relevant to health are covered, including health care services and systems, health of vulnerable groups, climate change, food and water, education, armed conflicts. Part E also provides and assessment of the impact global institutions, transnational corporations and rich countries. This report is a call for action, directed to health workers and activists and national and international policy-makers

Comunicaciones para salud en países en desarrollo : ¿lujo o necesidad?

MARTÍNEZ Fernández, Andreés
November 2004

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Presents the preliminary results of the project Hispano-American Connection of Health Program - EHAS- Alto Amazonas, that investigates how the new information and communication technologies can help improve the processes of primary health care and to have a positive impact in the health of the people

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