Children with disabilities across West Africa are subject to profound levels of poverty, exclusion and discrimination. They are widely excluded from education and denied access to protection services as well as other rights enjoyed by abled children. This report outlines why children with disabilities are denied these basic rights; why they are outside the circle. It calls on governments, NGOs, community groups and leaders to take action to put an end to this discrimination. The stigmatisation of girls and boys with disabilities is widespread across society in West Africa and is not given adequate attention by parents, guardians, siblings, peers, teachers, pastors, imams and governments.
This research comprised of three components: targeted in-depth research in four countries – Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone and Togo, a West Africa region-wide literature review and an investigation into good practices that exist in the region to include children with disabilities in education and protection work.
Its key findings are the following:
Governments and disability. All Governments in West Africa have committed to including children with disabilities throughout their societies through ratifications of relevant UN Conventions. Most have passed relevant legislation associated with UN Conventions. Some have developed inclusive policies. However, most governments have not yet effectively implemented the Conventions and laws they ratified regarding the rights of people with disabilities. Subsequently the inclusion and advancement of children with disabilities in the region is not happening at scale. Data on disability is generally unreliable for multiple reasons including low birth registration of children with disabilities, stigma, the phrasing of survey questions and flaws in data collection processes. In all four countries studied, non-state actors such as International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and other civil society actors have played a leading role in promoting the implementation of statutory obligations regarding the rights of children with disabilities.
Stigma is dominant. Multiple levels of prejudice exist towards children with disabilities at all levels of society, creating deep discrimination. Attitudes towards children with disabilities, and language used to describe them, are overwhelmingly negative and based on false assumptions and beliefs. Reports of infanticide and trading in body parts of children with disabilities were reported. The families of children with disabilities were found to be both victims and perpetuators of discrimination. Widespread beliefs of “wrongdoing” by family members as the cause of impairments have led to discrimination and “shame” against whole families. Some families respond by fighting for the rights and service provision of their children with impairments. Others hide them away and ignore them to reduce and avoid further shame, or send children with disabilities out to beg and earn incomes for the family. Three key factors were found to influence the depth of stigma of individual children with disabilities – their gender, their impairment type and the severity of the impairment.
Education for all? The majority of girls and boys with disabilities continue to be excluded from formal education. Our study found huge resistance at all levels to including children with disabilities in mainstream schools – from parents, teachers, peers, community members and education leaders. Our studies showed that universal building design in schools, appropriate curriculums and quality teacher training are important precursors to ensuring the effective inclusion of children with disabilities in schools, but they are not enough. Their impact is limited unless positive attitudes towards children with disabilities exist.
Exposure to violence. All countries have ratified Conventions and passed laws to protect children with disabilities yet much abuse continues to happen. Children with disabilities, especially girls, are highly vulnerable to physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as neglect. There is a lack of recognition in all countries of the extent of this abuse. Abuse is strongly linked to negative attitudes and firmly held traditional beliefs towards children with disabilities.
Who is reached by child focused agencies and other INGOs? Child-focused agencies, and other INGOs, in the region, who consider children with disabilities, largely focus on targeted and small scale projects such as material provision and financial or social support for children with disabilities and their families. Targeted projects for children with disabilities and their families are a good start but not a substitute for systematically including children with disabilities in all development and emergency work in West Africa. Collaborative advocacy efforts and partnerships between DPOs and NGOs have positively influenced the adoption and ratification of Conventions, legislation and policies. Such collaboration is important so that people with disabilities have the opportunity to influence policies and programmes impacting them.
Measures that work. The research found some cause for optimism. Where disability awareness-raising has taken place, the situation and acceptance of children with disabilities has improved. Community-based rehabilitation work (CBR) has been used in some countries to positive effect. Overall though, the research found relatively few examples of good practices in the region which address the substantive issues of including children with disabilities in either education or protection work.
The research findings lead to the following recommendations:
- Governments in West Africa must act to implement their legal commitments to children with disabilities, particularly regarding the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Measures to reduce and eliminate stigma and discrimination towards children with disabilities must be prioritised to address the root cause of exclusion from education and protection.
- Inclusive education practices must be adopted and sufficiently resourced. Families of children with disabilities need support to enable them to attend school.
- Awareness raising regarding the right to protection for children with disabilities is needed across every country in West Africa, along with implementation of protection measures.
- Non-governmental organisations, development agencies and donors should mainstream children with disabilities across all their programmes, collaborating with DPOs to inform their work.
