Voices for Them"

• 2025/09/02
• 470

Voices for Them"

The ongoing conflict in Syria has resulted in a significant increase in the number of individuals living with permanent physical disabilities, with estimates indicating around three million Syrians affected. According to reports by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for 2017, some 30,000 people in Syria are exposed monthly to psychological trauma due to the war, and approximately 2.8 million people suffer from permanent physical disabilities. The World Health Organization's December 2018 report noted around 1.5 million Syrians have disabilities caused by war-related injuries, including amputations reaching 86,000 cases. Women with disabilities face compounded risks, including higher exposure to psychological, sexual, and physical abuse during natural disasters and conflicts, as outlined in the 2015 International Disability Alliance report.

Medical research confirms that the prevalence of disability increases by about 30% under conditions of war and conflict. Disability incidence also rises with age, underscoring a worsening overall situation with the prolonged conflict. The scale of war-related amputations and injuries in Syria has been described by Dr. Malo Yurt Steven, President of International Doctors, as the largest since World War II.

Research Objective and Aims

This participatory research aims to explore the lived realities and challenges faced by persons with disabilities, with particular focus on:

The nature of the relationship between persons with disabilities and their families, including families’ supporting roles.

Challenges faced by persons with disabilities in their interaction with their local communities, and the impact of social stigma and negative behaviors.

The educational access and obstacles for persons with disabilities.

Employment opportunities and workplace challenges.

Political participation rates, motivations, and barriers among persons with disabilities.

Documenting successful stories to highlight resilience and empowerment within the community.

The study employs a participatory action research (PAR) approach that emphasizes empowerment of local communities by involving persons with disabilities directly in all phases of the research process: problem identification, design, data collection, analysis, and development of interventions. This methodology supports ownership and sustainability of outcomes, allowing affected communities to define priorities and solutions while receiving technical support from partnering civil society organizations.

The research utilized both quantitative (surveys with a representative sample of 100 persons with disabilities) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews with 26 individuals) tools, focusing on inclusive participation in Syria, Turkey, and Finland.

Key Findings (Summary)

Family Relations:

88% of participants reported satisfaction with their family relationships.

Main challenges included lack of trust and support from family members, social isolation imposed by families, suppression of personal autonomy, and intra-family discrimination between children with and without disabilities.

Recommendations stress increasing family trust, fostering social inclusion, respecting autonomy, and promoting equal treatment.

Community Attitudes:

Mixed community perceptions with 29% perceiving positive or supportive attitudes, while 45% reported negative, discriminatory views.

High prevalence of exposure to stigma, exclusion, and harassment.

Consequences include reduced self-esteem, social isolation, and exclusion from community participation.

Calls for comprehensive awareness campaigns, ethical guidelines, community dialogues, and active inclusion initiatives.

Education Access:

23% of respondents were non-literate, 28% had only attained primary levels of education.

Challenges included physical inaccessibility, absence of adapted curricula, lack of trained educational staff, negative societal attitudes, and family discouragement.

Recommendations include building accessible institutions, curriculum reform, staff capacity building, and policy advocacy.

Employment:

Approximately 73% expressed willingness to work, yet only 32% had received employment opportunities, many unsuitable.

Barriers involved employer discrimination, lack of workplace accommodations, insufficient skills training, and economic exploitation.

Suggestions include legislative enforcement against discrimination, awareness raising, provision of vocational training and inclusion quotas.

Political Participation:

Only 6% had previously participated in political activities, though 29% expressed interest.

Obstacles comprised absence of inclusive political platforms, deficient outreach, and lack of political representation.

Recommendations focus on creating communication channels with decision-makers, political rights education, and development of advocacy groups.

Success Stories:

Narratives from persons with disabilities showcase personal resilience, including academic achievements, employment accomplishments, innovative assistive technology use, and community leadership roles, underscoring the potential for empowerment when barriers are addressed.

General Recommendations

Enhance family support systems to foster autonomy and inclusion.

Conduct targeted community awareness and capacity-building initiatives to dismantle stigma and discrimination.

Enact policies and provide infrastructure for accessible, inclusive education.

Implement legal frameworks to secure fair and accommodating employment opportunities.

Promote political inclusion through advocacy, legal reforms, and empowerment