Challenges

Persons with disabilities in the Arab region face substantial barriers to fully participate in society on equal basis with others. Despite the knowledge built through lived experiences of persons with disabilities and a long history of advocacy by the disability movement, there is a noticeable research and data gap in the region on disability issues, particularly in Arabic, which is needed to inform disability policymaking. In addition, limited academic programs focus on the human rights approach to disability.

In response, the Arab-European Research Network on Disability was established to address these challenges by fostering interregional cooperation, including South-South learning, enhancing research capacities, and promoting inclusive rights-based disability policies. The initiative focuses on advancing the right of persons with disabilities to independent living as stipulated in Article 19 of the CRPD, emphasizing access to health, education, and employment services as well as to the built and and digital environment.

Toward a Solution

The Arab-European Research Network on Disability was launched in January 2022 through a collaboration between ESCWA, the Government of Malta, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was established under the umbrella of the Valletta Political Declaration[1], which affirms the rights of persons with disabilities, and which also established the European -Arab Cooperation Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These affiliations reinforce the sustainability of the network, ensuring ongoing commitment from participating countries.

The Network serves as an interregional platform that brings together academics, researchers, and institutions from both Europe and the Arab region with the aim of strengthening inter-regional and South- South research capacities and fostering interregional cooperation to support evidence-based policy making and drive the change towards greater social inclusion of persons with disabilities. By facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity-building, the Network embodies the principles of South-South and triangular cooperation.

Specifically, the initiative sought to enable organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in the Arab region to access knowledge on disability inclusion, build the capacity of OPDs, academia and disability researchers, and activists, and (3) strengthen intraregional and interregional collaboration, knowledge exchange and mutual learning. The Network’s focus on building local research capacities and fostering long-term partnerships contributes to its enduring impact and sustainability.

The network encompassed a series of activities, of which the inaugural activity was the regional conference on “Transition towards Independent Living within the Community for Persons with Disabilities” held in February 2023. The conference brought together researchers from the Arab region and Europe to explore policies and programs that support the right to independent living, highlighting common challenges and lessons learned.  through a call for submissions,

The conference was preceded by subregional consultations held in December 2022 engaging persons with disabilities and OPDs in identifying barriers to deinstitutionalization and achieving independent living.  These consultations ensured that the perspectives of persons with disabilities were considered. They exemplify the participatory approach of the network.

The Network issued a call for research papers, highlighting its commitment to inclusive and participatory research practices. Eight peer-reviewed papers were published that highlighted challenges and opportunities related to independent living for persons with disabilities the Arab region, with a focus on issues of technology, independent living for children and students, transition after university and finding work, and independent living in Europe.

ESCWA also conducted a Capacity Building Disability Research Writing Workshop in May 2023 aimed at enhancing the research and academic writing skills of early-career researchers, ensuring a new generation of scholars is enabled to contribute to disability-inclusive policymaking.

A training workshop on advocating for independent living was organized in July 2024 aimed to equip OPDs and activists with the necessary skills to advocate for disability inclusion in the Arab region in line with Article 19. The workshop included a review of legal texts and best practices on independent living.

The training was based on a guide developed by ESCWA targeting OPDs and decision makers. The guide seeks to enable OPDs and activists to develop advocacy and awareness-raising material on independent living. The guide also provides decision makers with practical policy and procedural guidelines to create a legislative environment conducive to the implementation of CRPD Article 19, thus serving as a valuable resource for stakeholders across the region.

A Letter of Understanding to establish fellowships programs was signed between ESCWA, the government of Malta and University of Leeds, establishing a fellowship with their joint master’s program on international disability studies. The fellowship program was launched in June 2024 and 3 fellows were provided the opportunity to engage in advanced research on disability in Finland and Spain, fostering interregional academic collaboration.

A panel discussion was held on the second day of the 9^th session of IGED in November 2024 which brought together OPDs and government representatives to discuss recommendations of the training workshop on independent living.

The Arab-European Research Network on Disability advances a rights-based and inclusive development agenda, in line with 2030 Agenda’s principle of “leaving no one behind”. It aims to reduce inequalities by addressing the right to full inclusion in community and challenging institutionalization practices (SDG10.2). The initiative represents triangular cooperation bringing together researchers in both regions (SDG17.6) and adopts a participatory approach (SDG16.7). By promoting independent living, it indirectly promotes access to work (SDG 8.5), inclusive educational policies through capacity building for young researchers (SDG 4.5) and access to the built and digital environment (SSG 11.7)

The Arab-European Research Network on Disability is innovative in that it emphasizes interregional collaboration and participatory research, involving academics, researchers, and institutions from both regions. It prioritizes the involvement of persons with disabilities and OPDs in research activities, ensuring their voices are central to inclusive policies. The Network\’s structure and activities offer a replicable model for other regions seeking to enhance disability inclusion through research and policy development.