Presentation by Ms. Anna Nordenmark Severinsson, Programme Specialist, Child Protection, UNICEF Regional Office for CEE/CIS

1

SITUATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN CENTRAL ASIA: RIGHTS AND REALITIES

4th CHILD PROTECTION FORUM FOR CENTRAL ASIA, AUGUST, 2013Anna Nordenmark Severinsson, UNICEF Regional Office for CEE/CIS

No increase in the number of children registered with disabilities

2005 2010 2012 2005 2010 2012 2000 2005 2010 2012 2000 2005 2005 2010 2012Kazakhstan Kyrgystan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

Total number of children with disabilities below 18 years registered in the country

Many children with disabilities may be un-counted for and are therefore invisible in policy making

Central Asia: prevalence (%) of children with disability 0-18 years based on administra-

tive records

Bhutan: prevalence (%) of children with disability 2-9 years based on

MICS+screening tools

FYR Macedonia: prevalence (%) of children with disability 2-9 years based on

MICS+screening tools

0.9%

2.7%4.8%

21%

31%

Comparison of disability prevalenceModerate/Severe All combined (incl. light)

Definitions, stipulated rights and provisions for children with disabilities in Central Asia

• All countries in CA have specific laws that stipulate rights and provisionso Definitions vary, only one country seems to have changed

language to be more in line with international standards

• All countries have had changes in these provisions in last 5 yearso Health services o Education o Social protection services (mainly residential care) and schemes

(benefits, taxbreaks, free aid/supports)

Changes in health services for children with disabilities

Observed trends:• Prevention• Modernization• Strengthened identification• Strengthing and development of special protocols and system

depending on age• Introduction of new services in several countries (e.g. rehabilitation)

Remaining issues:• Equitable geographic availability?• Outreach/access?• Integration?

Changes in education services for children with disabilities

Observed trends:• Increases in pre-school services for children with disabilities• No changes in use of special pre-schools for children with

disabilities• Efforts to provide children with disabilities with education• De-institutionlization in education?

Remaining issues:• Inclusion ?• Quality?

Pre-school education for children with disabilities

2000 2005 2010 2012 2005 2010 2012 2005 2010 2012 2000 2005 2010 2012Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

40%40%

40%

40%

48% 40% 42%

No of children with disabilities in regular pre-school facilities No of children with disabilities in special pre-school facilities

Proportion of children with disabilities receiving pre-school education services in different settings – changes over time

Where do children with disabilities get education?

Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Taijikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

6% 18% 23% 74%

61%

27%

7%13% 26%

34%

66%

74%

65%

5%

No of children with disabilities receiving education in regular schoolsNo of children with disabilities receiving education through home-schoolingNo of children with disabilities receiving education in boarding schools for special education

Proportion of children with disabilities receiving education services in different settings

Education trend: Integration or separation?

2005 2012 2000 2005 2012Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

55%

74%

4%

6% 5%

No of children with disabilities receiving educa-tion in regular schoolsNo of children with disabilities receiving educa-tion through home-schoolingNo of children with disabilities receiving educa-tion in boarding schools for special education

Proportion of children with disabilities receiving education services in different settings – changes over time in two countries

Changes in social protection and community based social services

Observed trends• Range of social protection schemes, several countries report

increases• New community based social services for family and child support

emerging (such as day care, rehabilitation)

Remaining issues:• Slow uptake of community based social services• Limited outreach and no monitoring of equitable distribution• Barriers to access

A range of social assistance schemes

2010

2012

2010

2012

2012

2005

2010

2012

2005

2010

2012

Kazakhstan Kyrgystan Tajik-istan

Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

98555

113316

22359 25346 26345

724810100 10945

120138

96177

78910

Number of Beneficiaries of Disability Allowance/Carer Allowance over several years

Total number of families receiving “care al-lowance” for child with disabilityTotal number of children and/or families with children with disabilities receiving “disability al-lowance"

Social protection services – still mainly relying on residential care

201220122011*20122011*KazakhstanKyrgystanTajikistanTurkmenistanUzbekistan

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

60%

68%

69%

13%

41%

40%32%

31%87%

59%

Total number of children below 18 years in residential care

Total number of children with disabilities below 18 years in residential care

Proportion of children with disabilities in residential care

Most children with disabilities in residential care are in pre-school age or school age

201220122011*20122011*KazakhstanKyrgystanTajikistanTurkmenistanUzbekistan

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

98.6%

99.5%

99.5%

100%

99.3%

1.4%0.5%0.5%0%.7%

Total number of children with disabilities below 18 years in residential careTotal number of children with disabilites below 3 years in residential care

Proportion of children with disabilities below 3 yrs of all children with disabilities in residential care

Rights and realities

Reality: - Number of children with disabilities are still invisible in statistics and

therefore not taken into account in policy- Available state funding goes to social protection and welfare,

education and health for children with disabilities

Rights: - Large proportions of children with disabilities (those we know of) are

still not allowed to grow up in a family, included in communities, learn in education with peers who are without disability

- For rights to be fulfilled, need to shift focus from provisions to outcomes.

- This requires a re-allocation of existing resources

This Forum

Plenary 2:Children with disabilities:Rights and best interests

Plenary 3:Taking stock and identifying priorities

Plenary 4:Right to health and to

habilitation and rehabilitation

Plenary 5: Freedom from exploitation,

violence and abuse

Plenary 6: Right to education

Plenary 7: Respect for the family and right to

be included in community