Rebecca Shea Irvine
University of Michigan, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, Assistant Dean for Research, Creative Practice, and Graduate Education
Coordinator of the Conflict, Terrorism & Development Collaboratory at Michigan State University.
Interested in disability, conflict, citizenship, activism, social policy, & governance.
Interested in disability, conflict, citizenship, activism, social policy, & governance.
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Conference Presentations
The first section of the paper will introduce the relationship between disability and violent conflict by discussing hierarchies within the post-conflict disability identity (considering disabled veterans, victims of the conflict, people with disabilities unrelated to the conflict, and a ‘ranking’ of impairment types). The second section will provide a comparative analysis of post-conflict documents including constitutions, peace agreements, and significant redevelopment strategies. The analysis will focus on the State’s recognition of people with disabilities as citizens and the role that is envisioned for disabled people within society (e.g. are they passive or active members). It will draw upon the experiences of ten countries that have undergone conflict transformation over the past twenty years including Bosnia, Cambodia, Croatia, Guatemala, Kosovo, Mozambique, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Uganda.
This paper explores the conflicts that arise out of the development of social policy during post-conflict reconstruction. It addresses the political, economic, and social factors that must be balanced in the development of social policy and draws upon the experiences of Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Mozambique. Examples are taken from the disability sector in particular to illuminate the experiences of a specific civil society group/identity and the development of relevant policies.
The paper will be split into two sections: the first part will address the characteristics of an effective disability rights movement operating in a post-conflict environment, while the second will focus on the experiences of South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Sierra Leone. Each case was selected for its unique approach to achieving its objectives. South Africa’s disability movement is the closest to meeting the set criteria and has resulted in some of the world’s most progressive disability policies. Northern Ireland lacks an organized and inclusive movement and has struggled to produce meaningful disability policies of its own. The disability movement in Sierra Leone has failed to acknowledge the political and economic circumstances that policy makers are operating within and has created barriers to engagement as a result.
Papers
The first section of the paper will introduce the relationship between disability and violent conflict by discussing hierarchies within the post-conflict disability identity (considering disabled veterans, victims of the conflict, people with disabilities unrelated to the conflict, and a ‘ranking’ of impairment types). The second section will provide a comparative analysis of post-conflict documents including constitutions, peace agreements, and significant redevelopment strategies. The analysis will focus on the State’s recognition of people with disabilities as citizens and the role that is envisioned for disabled people within society (e.g. are they passive or active members). It will draw upon the experiences of ten countries that have undergone conflict transformation over the past twenty years including Bosnia, Cambodia, Croatia, Guatemala, Kosovo, Mozambique, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Uganda.
This paper explores the conflicts that arise out of the development of social policy during post-conflict reconstruction. It addresses the political, economic, and social factors that must be balanced in the development of social policy and draws upon the experiences of Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Mozambique. Examples are taken from the disability sector in particular to illuminate the experiences of a specific civil society group/identity and the development of relevant policies.
The paper will be split into two sections: the first part will address the characteristics of an effective disability rights movement operating in a post-conflict environment, while the second will focus on the experiences of South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Sierra Leone. Each case was selected for its unique approach to achieving its objectives. South Africa’s disability movement is the closest to meeting the set criteria and has resulted in some of the world’s most progressive disability policies. Northern Ireland lacks an organized and inclusive movement and has struggled to produce meaningful disability policies of its own. The disability movement in Sierra Leone has failed to acknowledge the political and economic circumstances that policy makers are operating within and has created barriers to engagement as a result.
and programme delivery in Northern Ireland relative to the key requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD);
highlighting any key issues/barriers to full implementation. The report, ‘Disability
programmes and policies: How does Northern Ireland measure up?’ was published by ECNI in 2012. The present report was commissioned by the ECNI to update the 2012 Report and to contribute to the evidence base the ECNI will draw upon in its
engagement with the examination of the United Kingdom by the UNCRPD in 2014 and 2015.