Online Reporter
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
A REFUGEE is generally defined as a person who has fled his or her country because of war, persecution or natural disaster.
The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol are the primary international instruments that comprehensively define a refugee, outline their rights and establish the legal obligations of states to protect them.
This article focuses on the intersection of disability and migration, which includes refugees.
Zimbabwe commemorated the United Nations World Refugee Day on June 20.
It ran under the theme “Solidarity with Refugees”. Disabilities may be pre-existing or may develop during displacement.
Refugees can experience a wide range of disabilities due to factors such as trauma.
Many suffer war-related injuries, including amputations or mobility impairments caused by bombings or other forms of violence. Conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and spinal injuries can also affect mobility.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among refugees, resulting from experiences of violence, loss and displacement. Depression and anxiety are also prevalent, often linked to the stress of displacement, uncertainty and challenges of adapting to new environments in host countries. Visual impairments, ranging from partial sight to total blindness, may occur due to lack of medical care or injuries during displacement. Hearing impairments can result from infections or trauma.
Children with disabilities often face inadequate access to education and therapeutic services while displaced.
Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy and cardiovascular diseases are also widespread, often worsened by stress or insufficient healthcare during displacement.
International organisations and host countries have a responsibility to ensure that the rights of refugees, including those with disabilities, are protected and their needs addressed. The Government demonstrates its commitment to respecting, promoting and protecting refugee rights through the robust implementation of the Refugees Act (Chapter 4:03), a crucial piece of legislation governing the status and rights of refugees in Zimbabwe.
The Refugees Act outlines procedures for determining refugee status, the rights and obligations of refugees and the responsibilities of the Government in providing protection and assistance.
It also establishes frameworks such as the Zimbabwean Refugees Committee.
Currently, Zimbabwe is home to approximately 17 200 refugees.
Implementation of the Refugees Act and related policies enables Zimbabwe to meet its international obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its Protocol.
Some countries, including Zimbabwe, operate formal refugee camp systems, providing refugees with access to land, livelihood projects, healthcare, education and clean water. However, some refugees with special permission live within communities.
In contrast, countries such as South Africa do not have formal refugee camps, meaning refugees — including those with disabilities — live in urban areas where they compete with nationals and other migrants for economic opportunities and social services.
Addressing the needs of refugees, particularly those with disabilities, ensures a more inclusive approach to refugee support that recognises diverse experiences.
Globally, however, migrants with disabilities often face stigma associated with lack of documentation, dependency, illness, deformity, mental health challenges and crime, which can render them unworthy of acceptance in the eyes of host communities.
Regarding crime, whether minor offences or serious crimes, Article 2 of the 1951 Refugee Convention acknowledges that “every refugee has duties to the country in which he finds himself, which require in particular that he conforms to its laws and regulations as well as to measures taken for the maintenance of public order”.
There is a pressing need to strengthen research in the understudied area of disability and migration, including refugees.
Such research can inform policy and practice, while also challenging harmful global generalisations that portray migrants with disabilities as destabilising burdens to host countries.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She can be contacted on: [email protected]
