Intersecting Accessibility

Both location and gender are compounding factors of disability in the Arab region, as women and persons in rural areas often have more limited access to resources and services than those living in urban centres.[1] Armed conflict and war in the Arab region have simultaneously stalled cities’ efforts to become more inclusive and augmented the prevalence of disability, because of deteriorating health-care quality and increased conflict-related injuries. According to an Iraqi veteran, in the 1980s and 1990s, some neighbourhoods in Baghdad were being outfitted with ramps to accommodate persons disabled in the Iran-Iraq war.[2] Much of that progress was destroyed after 2003, and universal accessibility is not currently prioritized by the Government. Once renowned for its greenery, Baghdad has fewer public spaces than it did before the war, and those which remain are often perceived as not being fully inclusive as they are sometimes delineated along sectarian or political divides.[3] Persons with disabilities are at a particular disadvantage in such situations, since Governments facing strong pressure to address social rehabilitation and urban reconstruction might be slow to address the needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable segments of society.

Adhering to the targets of SDG 11 will be crucial in the coming decades, as Arab countries continue to face high rates of urbanization. It is therefore imperative that Governments outline fully inclusive sustainable urban strategies, with an emphasis on including social groups that have previously been sidelined. The implementation of targets 11.2 and 11.7 will not only be beneficial for vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities, but also for society as a whole. In an inclusive and navigable environment, persons with disabilities can contribute their full potential, thereby furthering national progress and development.


[1] ESCWA, Disability in the Arab Region (forthcoming).

[2] “Invisible Citizens: Living with Disability in Iraq”, Arab Weekly, 2 April 2017. Available from https://thearabweekly.com/invisible-citizens-living-disability-iraq.

[3] Sarah Saluh, Abdulkareem, Sumarni Ismail and Noor Fazamimah Abd Hamid, "Lacking of social interaction at open spaces in the city of Baghdad, Iraq”, 7th International Conference on Kansei Engineering and Emotion Research 2018, March 2018. Available from http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp/146/043/ecp18146043.pdf.