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Iraq has one of the largest populations of persons with disabilities in the world. Despite this, there has been little consultation among persons with disabilities and their representative groups by government and humanitarian and development agencies. Persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in Iraq: Barriers, challenges and priorities aims to improve the understanding of the barriers experienced by persons with disabilities, including the key challenges and priorities of their rep­resentative organizations, in order to inform humanitarian and development programming. The report is based on interviews conducted with 81 representatives of 53 Organiza­tions of persons with disabilities across 18 governorates in Iraq.

Action by humanitarian partners to strengthen inclusion of persons with disabilities in the humanitarian response in an evidencebased manner remains highly needed – this note aims to support that effort by providing background and explanation on the definition of disability as well as on how to interpret and use data related to disability.

The note also provides elaboration on the Syria Protection Cluster (Turkey) recommended disability-related data collection methodology for humanitarian organizations and entities in northwest Syria. Thereby the note aims to stimulate and assist the broader humanitarian community in northwest Syria in adopting the Washington Group Short Set of Questions on Functioning, especially in relation to disability focused data collection and in understanding and utilizing assessment findings, specifically prevalence-rates of disability in northwest Syria.

For more elaborated description of the situation of persons with disability in northwest Syria and practical suggestions for humanitarians on enhancing inclusion of persons with disabilities in programming, this note is to be read in conjunction with the ITWG “Self-reported barriers to activities of daily living of persons with disabilities living in IDP sites in northwest Syria” brief report and recommendations.

This short video presents an example of a blind woman exploited for electoral fraud during the 2011 election in Tunisia, and her subsequent kidnap upon exposing the case on radio. The clip, made with the participation of disabled actors, has been created by OTDDPH as an awareness raising tool about this election exploitation

This article highlights research that has shown that in disasters, people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable. If their impairment affects their ability to move or communicate, they are not only at greater risk of death, injury and isolation, but may also struggle to access humanitarian assistance and information about relief services available. In addition, communities and governments lack information about the needs and capacities of persons with disabilities, and therefore frequently exclude them from disaster plans and protocols.  The paper aims to assist initiatives that enable people with disabilities in disaster to understand ways of becoming more “resilient” as well as proposing risk reduction practices and services

Discusses Israel's infringement of the right to freedom of movement of residents of the Palestinian village Sheikh Sa'ad and its severe consequences on their right to work, to health, and to education. Also describes the hardships suffered by residents as a result of Israel's siege on the village. The report warns against further human rights violations that would result if the government implements its decision to build a separation barrier between the village and East Jerusalem. The report also includes the official responses to the report of the Israel Defence Force, the Israel Police Force (Jerusalem District) and the Municipality of Jerusalem

A position paper focusing on the human rights violations that will occur if Israel continues to route the separation barrier through the West Bank. It outlines how the barrier will further restrict Palestinian movement, pushing more Palestinian families into poverty either because they will not be able to reach their fields or market their produce, or because they will not be able to reach their jobs. It also outlines the likely problems that Palestinians will have with regard to access to medical treatment and education