HRW Day 1: Survivors of Landmines and Disabilities (Report)

Survivors of Landmines and Disabilities
with Hussain Ahmadi

Human  Rights Week, Day 1

"Attacking people with disabilities is the lowest display of power I can think of."

~ Morgan Freeman

Session: Survivors of Landmines and Disabilities

Speaker: Hussain Ahmadi, Executive Director, Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization (ALSO)

Date: 10 January 2021

Time: 5-6.30pm

Moderator: Aniruddha Phadke

United Nation's Goal 10 of Sustainable Development Goal is 'Reduced Inequalities', as an association that believes in welfare and assimilation of all sections of society, whether with abilities or disabilities, Day 1 of Human Rights Week was the right step towards that.

The speaker, Hussain Ahmadi, himself is a landmine survivor with physical disabilities. This year, PSA had collaborated with international organizations to include human rights topics that are a matter of concern worldwide.

Afghanistan has been doing good in providing support to persons with disabilities. Atleast 390 women received vocational training from ALSO. 1850 girls and boys were provided English courses and Computer training. 3,500+ people with disabilities were covered for vocational training like cooking and stitching that will help them to find jobs.

Afghanistan is most affected by Landmine explosions. 4.8% of the Afghan population suffer disabilities, out of which 2.7% are severe. In the year 2019, 1538 civilians died due to landmines explosions in Afghanistan ( highest toll in the world). 52% of the casualties were children and 48% were adults. Afghanistan acceded Ottawa Treaty ( Land mine treaty ) in 2002.

Afghanistan has also committed to end landmines completely by March 2023. The 2004 Constitution of Central Asian country promotes the integration of persons with disabilities into public and social life.

The session and the enriching questions that followed, dealth with many problems persons with disabilities face, for example, they do not get equal rights or access in public sphere ( ALSO has built ramps in public spaces to help persons with disabilities ) or in living places.

Artificial Intelligence has helped persons with disabilities. Article 22 of Person with Disabilities Act of Afghanistan, states that atleast 3% of seats in government and private sector must be reserved for persons with disabilities.

Since the speaker himself was a landmine survivor and a person with disability, he shared his personal experience about how such people face social stigma, neglect and trauma. Also, getting jobs and economic access is difficult for them, therefore the government and private agencies must step in to secure their rights.

Mental health programs and counseling services are scarcely available to landmine survivors. Often person with disabilities and landmine survivors stay in isolated situations, they need social support to cope with the mental trauma. Government needs to spend more funds for social programmes.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in Afghanistan from March 2020 has severely affected person with disabilities in economic terms. Online education has not reached to children due to poor internet connectivity, lack of resources or abscene of basic requirements.

The Education Minister in Afghanistan tried to promote online model of education. Afghanistan Government has provided $60 financial support to the person affected in landmines but that is miniscule of support that persons with disabilities need.

Space, respect and sensitivity should be given to people with special needs as they face many challenges and barriers in civil society. Persons with disabilities also face mental problems and sexual violence. Afghanistan's Senate has 2 female representatives who are persons with disabilities. Answering a question that was raised regarding representation of persons with disabilities in movies, the speaker pointed out the fact that very few or almost negligible movies are made that address such issues. The speaker also made us aware that even if a movie addresses such an issue, it must be dealt with sensitivity and rightful depiction and not stereotypical in nature.

Wildlife and environment are deeply affected by landmines. Afghanistan has considerable participation of persons with disabilities in basketball. There is not adequate coverage for problems and concerns of person with disabilities in international or local media.

Therefore, it was very important that the issues, causes, concerns and challenges faced by persons with disabilities are brought to the limelight. PSA has tried to shed light on these areas via this session.

There are many other local and international organizations in Afghanistan working for landmine survivors. Families near mines face economic problems after mine explosion. Children affected by landmine explosions must get support from civil society and government.

Concluding the report, one must be aware and sensitive towards people with special needs, whether physical or mental. Inclusion of every section of society is utmost important to build a healthy environment for Human Rights.

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Please have a look at Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization's ( ALSO )

* Website - http://afghanlandminesurvivors.org/en/about-us/

* Twitter account - (@ALSO_AFG): https://twitter.com/ALSO_AFG?s=09

* Facebook account -

https://www.facebook.com/afghanlandminessurvivorsorganization/

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Report drafted by Joint Secretary of PSA, Rohit Gupta from SYBA and Vice President of PSA, Aniruddha Phadke from TYBA - Political Science.