Concluding Remarks

This summary has served to highlight a number of key trends with regards to disability in the Arab region. For one, disability prevalence rates vary widely across Arab countries, but overall are remarkably low especially in comparison to global and other regional averages. These remarkable regional variations in disability prevalence merit further analysis, especially as a number of countries that use the short set of questions developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics report relatively low disability prevalence. Secondly, significant steps have been taken to strengthen national institutions and laws related to disability, which are now widely established throughout the region. However, despite these developments, available data also indicates that persons with disabilities, and especially women with disabilities, continue to experience marginalization and more limited opportunities in accessing decent work opportunities and quality education in comparison to their peers without disabilities.

What are the policy implications of these findings? Firstly, further efforts are needed to promote reliability and comparability of disability-related data in the Arab region. In particular, countries should further harmonize and strengthen their data collection methodologies, especially censuses, with the aim of producing more accurate, detailed and comparable data on persons with disabilities. This should include the adoption of standard questions such as the short set of questions developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics, and ensuring that censuses and surveys are complemented by effective communication strategies that raise awareness and combat the social stigma that discourages people from reporting their disabilities. Countries should also work towards aligning their definitions of disability – including classifications of disability types – with internationally agreed guidelines and standards, such as the CRPD and the ICF. Secondly, governments should continue their efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the CRPD, and ensure that these laws are effectively enforced. Finally, further efforts are needed to ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in labour markets and education systems, while giving particular attention to groups at risk of heightened discrimination and access barriers, including women with disabilities. To this end, governments must among other things ensure the effective implementation of employment quotas and anti-discrimination laws, which should be coupled with adequate enforcement mechanisms, including appropriate sanctions and incentive schemes. 

While this study has focused on particular dimensions of inclusion, such as employment and education, it is also crucial that these efforts be framed within a system-wide approach aimed at protecting and promoting the full spectrum of human rights enshrined in the CRPD and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In other words, specific measures to promote inclusion and accessibility in for example schools and the workplace, should take place as part of a wider, holistic and rights-based framework for disability that is applied across government institutions, including such issues as access to the justice system and broader aspects of social safety nets, such as child protective services.

Furthermore, additional focus on the implementation and impact of laws and policies is also necessary. The results of this study show that institutions and laws on disability have expanded substantially over recent years. However, beyond the political intentions and provisions reflected in the legal and institutional frameworks of Arab countries, it is also crucial to monitor their impact on the ground. While available disability-related data help us to discern certain general trends, they are nevertheless insufficient indicators of policy impact and social change from a bottom-up perspective. As such, the development of adequate indicators of policy impact and the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are primary tasks that deserve priority attention in the region’s continued efforts on disability.

It is today widely recognized that the inclusion of persons with disabilities represents a key component for the success of development objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda. Failure to do so means that large segments of the population, all with vast potential, are effectively excluded from contributing to the socio-economic development of their societies. Looking forward, governments and other stakeholders should build on current momentum and strengthen their efforts to ensure that persons with disabilities have the opportunities and support needed in order to realize their rights to participate in and contribute to society on an equal basis with others.