Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development
Disability Information Service Center (DISC)

Purpose: 

The baseline survey has an overall objective of assessing the prevalence of sexual violence against people with disabilities in the Yeka sub city kebele 01/02, Addis Ababa. The specific objectives of the research are: 

To gain a comprehensive understanding based on available data of the situation and magnitude of the problem regarding sexual violence against people with disability in Yeka Sub-City Kebele 01/02 with special emphasis on the violation of the rights of people with disabilities. 

To investigate the underlying and immediate causes and effects of sexual violence on people with disabilities in the kebele. 

To study community attitudes towards sexual violence against people with disabilities. 

To determine the actual magnitude of the problem. 

To suggest programs and strategies for future intervention based on the findings. 

Brief Description: 

The United Nations estimates that 10% of the populations in developing countries are living with different forms of disabilities. Organizations working with People with Disabilities (PWD) are voicing their concerns about the increase in the severity of the violations of human rights of PWD. Apart from a wide range of discriminatory practices that PWD are subjected to, they are also highly vulnerable to the pervasive, but largely ignored problem of sexual violence and abuse. The high prevalence of sexual violence against PWD has resulted in a very high risk of contracting the HIV infection.  

Due to the shortage of data on the problem of sexual violence against PWD in Ethiopia, the exact magnitude of the problem is not known. So far, all relevant activists have not given their full attention to the problem, aggravating the incidence of sexual violence against PWD. As a leading organization advocating for the rights of PWD in Ethiopia, Handicap International has taken this issue into consideration. Accordingly, it has carried out this baseline survey as a kick-start towards the protection of PWD against sexual violence. Furthermore, the survey is intended to identify the impact of sexual violence and the responses of government and non-government organizations to the problem.  

The geographical focus of the present survey, Kebele 01/02 of Yeka Sub-city, is located north east of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The sub-city is divided into 11 smaller administrative units called kebeles. Kebele 01/02, where this baseline survey was conducted, is one of the kebeles in the sub-city. The total population of the kebele stands at 32,976 based on projection of the 1994 census conducted by the Central Statistics Authority (CSA).  

Methodology: 

The baseline survey employed purposeful sampling techniques and information was obtained primarily from people with disabilities and parents and caretakers of people with disabilities.  

A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies was used for data collection. Participatory tools and methods including in-depth individual interviews, case studies, semi-structured interviews, on-site visits and focused group discussions were applied. As part of the quantitative approach, questionnaires were administered for the baseline survey. Ten data collectors were recruited from the locality, many of them are PWD.  

In-depth Interviews have been conducted with representatives of Yeka Sub-City kebele 01/02 Association of Persons with Disabilities, Handicap International , Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Association of Women with Disabilities, Family Guidance Association Ferensai Model Youth Center, House of Mercy Ethiopia (“HOME”) and Rehabilitation and Preventive Initiative against Disability (RAPID), the Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities (EFPD) and its member associations, Ethiopian National Association for Mentally Retarded Children and Youth Yeka kebele 01/02 Project, Federal First Instance Court, Yeka Sub-City Police Station, Equal Opportunity for Us and Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development and others. Validation workshops (where discussions would be carried out on the draft of the survey) were done so with the stakeholders/organizations mentioned above. 

Participants of FGDs and Case Studies: Persons with Disabilities, Idir leadership, Parents and Caretakers of Persons with Mental Retardation, Yeka Kebele 01/02 youth and women’s association, Persons with Disabilities (case study). 

Results: 

The survey has found out that different forms of sexual violence including, rape, attempted rape, physical and verbal sexual harassment, sodomy and incest are perpetrated against PWD in the surveyed area. More than half of cases of sexual violence are perpetrated by unknown persons but the perpetrators can also be close friends and family members.  

An equally important finding of this survey was that the majority of cases involving sexual violence are rarely reported. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons these cases reaching the police’s desks hardly result in the conviction of the perpetrators.  
The survey has also found out that PWD are subjected to sexual violence on frequent occasions and for long periods of time. The victims are at risk of contracting HIV, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and other forms of physical and psychological consequences because of the abuse.  

The survey found out that out of 17 cases (18.9%) sexual violence are reported. Out of these, only 3 cases are reported to police authorities demonstrating that the bulk of sexual violence committed against persons with disabilities remain unnoticed. What is more, the survey demonstrated that psychological counseling and legal aid services for victims of sexual violence are non-existent in Yeka Sub-City kebele 01/02.  
 
Conclusions: 

Nearly half of people with disabilities in the sample (46.4%) reported having been subjected to sexual violence. Similarly, FGD, case studies and in-depth interviews conducted with respondents highlighted that there was a very high level of sexual violence against people with mental retardation. This is indicative of the fact that there is a high level of sexual violence against people with disabilities in Kebele 01/02 of Yeka Sub-city. The survey also found out that people with disabilities in the kebele are denied sex education, reproductive health education and services as well as HIV/AIDS awareness programs.  

Recommendations: 

Public information campaigns should be organized and advocacy and public discussions provided to educate the public and address any of the community’s prejudicial attitudes towards people with disabilities. 

Offering training for journalists and other professionals in the mass media concerning the rights of people with disabilities. 
To encourage people with disabilities and their parents or caretakers to report cases of sexual violence. 

To provide sex education, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS awareness on a regular basis for people with disabilities. 

Offering training on life skills, self-determination and relationship-building skills to people with disabilities so that they can learn how to develop safe and trusting relationships. 

Familiarizing PWD with the laws and enforcement mechanisms governing sexual violence.  

To provide tailored trainings to law enforcement personnel i.e. the police, public prosecutor and judges, to respond to the conditions and vulnerability of PWD. 

To launch an education program for the public on the extent of the problem of sexual violence, the consequences and remedies available.  

To arrange shelters (dropping centers) for victims of sexual violence. 

To furnish the police station and court houses with the necessary facilities and personnel in order to make them accessible to PWD. 

To arrange legal aid and psychological counseling for victims of sexual violence.  

Changing the attitude of law enforcement bodies/ organizations about the sexual behaviour of PWD through education forums.  

Undertake activities to reduce communication barriers by providing sign language training to key service providing agents.  

Empowering associations for people with disabilities to engage more into the prevention of sexual violence.  

To lobby for the inclusion of rights of people with disabilities in the curriculum of police and judicial training centers.  

To reduce the number of cases of sexual violence left unreported due to indignity of the victims. Mechanisms need to be designed that protects the identity and privacy of the victim whilst providing the necessary information. This may include the setting up of tone free hotlines for the purpose of reporting sexual violence against people with disabilities.  

On top of the physical damage sustained by victims of sexual violence, they also become psychologically distressed. Hence the services of psychiatrists and/or psychologists need to be made available in place for the treatment of the victims.  

To make legal aid providers more sensitive about the problem of sexual violence against people with disabilities in order to make their program responsive to the special needs of people with disabilities who have faced sexual abuse. 

Purpose: 

The main purpose of this study is to assess program effectiveness for the education of children with hearing impairment among the different placement arrangements, like special schools, special classes and integrated settings. Accordingly, attempts have been made to assess the educational conditions and academic problems of children with hearing impairment in Addis Ababa, Harer and Hoseana. 

Methodology: 

The data was collected through questionnaires, observations, interviews and English comprehension tests developed by the teacher of grade 8 students with hearing impairment. 14 parents and 15 grade 8 teachers from five schools were selected. Purposeful sampling and stratified random samplings were used in selecting the respondents. Analysis of the data was made using qualitative techniques complemented by quantitative (comparison of means) methods. A T-test was used to deal with the significance of the comparison. 

Main findings: 

Results of the study show that children in the special schools are performing significantly better in academics and socialization than those children placed in integrated and special classes. The classrooms of special classes and integrated schools were found to be ill-equipped and lacked the major determinants of effective teaching like valuable management, a well trained teaching staff, an adequate budget, supportive professionals and facilities needed for aiding teaching. On the other hand, the education being delivered in the special schools, particularly the boarding school was well organized and supported by professionals. The children in special schools performed better than those in special or integrated classes on English comprehension tests. The findings of the study also showed that these children are more advanced in their social development when compared to those children in integrated settings and special classes. 

Conclusions: 

The majority of the sample students, teachers and parents justified the existence of varying academic and social problems of children with hearing impairment by pointing out that problems also vary among the children in both home and school environments. 

In the homes of children with hearing impairment, there is abuse or neglect, severe deprivation of a primary nurturing environment. Children with hearing impairment in the sample schools come from such homes. The main reason being the negative attitudes of parents toward their children with hearing impairment, discrimination due to a lack of proper communication and a lack of knowledge about causes and proper interventions. However, children at the special schools, particularly at the Hosanna boarding school live in a more nurturing environment. These children live with staff that communicate and respond to the unique communication character of the children. 

School is the second most important environment for the development of children next to home. However, many of the schools these children attend were not found to provide what children with hearing impairment were missing in their primary nurturing environment. The educational support given to children with hearing impairment is limited by various underlying problems such as a lack of poor assessment and the identification and implementation of educational programs. The sample schools lacked basic determinants of education like textbooks, trained teachers or principals, facilities and supportive professionals. 

The education of children in special and integrated classes was not found to be effective. Effectiveness in theses schools is hampered by many factors such as the lack of teaching facilities, supportive professionals and effective school administrators. On the other hand, special schools particularly the boarding school, were found to be effective. Children from this school performed significantly higher in academics and were better integrated into the community in which they lived. 

Recommendations: 

The major determinant of educational and social development of children with hearing impairment is communication problems. The education and social development of children with hearing impairment requires the full collaboration of all concerned bodies involved in the education; this includes parents, teachers and other community members. Moreover, donor organizations that support people with disabilities and their associations need to put their efforts together to build a better future for children with hearing impairment. More specifically, governmental organisations, non-governmental organizations and churches should work together to improve the education of these children. 

Parents of children with hearing impairment who want to have their children educated need to have the opportunity to choose an ideal type of school. The effectiveness of the schools differs greatly from school to school so, on the basis of the findings of this study, special schools, particularly the boarding school, is the best alternative for their children’s education and acquirement of social skills. Moreover, parents should form associations to support and contribute to the education and rights of their children rather than entrusting the fate of their children to others. 

Since the introduction of the new educational policy in Ethiopia, a massive increase has occurred in access to education. Yet, many children with disabilities are not well served by these schools. Thus, the potentially developmental effects of education are being threatened by the growing ineffectiveness of primary education in many schools. Poor primary schools often have poorly prepared products. The most visible consequence of poor quality education are low primary completion rates and low student achievements. Given both the impoverished conditions and the severe resource constraints facing government schools like Minilik II special classes, it is critical to concentrate resources on interventions that improve learning. The findings of this study suggest that investing in curriculum improvement, learning materials, instructional time, and classroom teaching and improving school administration would help a lot in overcoming much of today’s problems. 

Purpose:

The primary purpose of the report is to serve as a general source of information and knowledge for individuals and organizations interested in disability conditions in Ethiopia, and to encourage future academic and policy research on disability conditions.  It also provides a sound basis for informed advocacy work and design of appropriate policy and legislations on disability, whilst serving as a ground for informed and rational decisions for disability-oriented development and service work provided by government. 

Methodology:

The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods so as to provide an insight into the general conditions for people with disabilities in Ethiopia. The purposive sampling method was applied to select samples which were appropriate for the study, and primary data sources included the Federation of National Associations of Disabilities, including national, regional and local associations of disabilities; vocational training centres and production centres; service delivery organizations; educational institutions including the management and students from special and non-special schools; health institutions including physicians, hospital management, and management of rehabilitation centres; children, women and the elderly with disabilities; Government institutions including the Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs (MOLSA), the Ministry of education (MOE) and the Ministry of Health (MOH); the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) and its respective bureaus in Amhara, SNNPR and Oromia; the Addis Ababa City Government; community members; a sample of international and national NGOs and institutions working on disability and whose areas of interventions are education, vocational training or service delivery related; faith-based organizations that focus on women, children and the elderly in relation to disability; and rehabilitation centres functioning in the regions mentioned above. 

 

 

The primary data was collected from Amhara, SNNPR, Oromia and the Addis Ababa city government. Further data was gathered from the localities of Adama, Bako, Awassa, Wolayta Sodo and Bahir Dar. Tools used to gather data were participatory, interactive and friendly, including methods such as focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth individual and group interviews, observations, regional workshops, case studies, organizational visit meetings, and organizational capacity assessments to collect relevant primary data information from stake holders.  As secondary sources of data, the study reviewed almost all relevant published and unpublished research produced by academic institutions, individuals, government, local and international NGOs since 1990. 

 
Brief Description: 

The overall aim of the research was to assess the following major issues: 

Concepts and issues on disability, The national policy and legal framework surrounding disability,
Socio-cultural attitudes towards disability, The basic facts and figures on disability in Ethiopia, The living conditions of people with disabilities and the profile and functions of organizations working in the area of disability

Results: 

Prior research conducted in Ethiopia on people with disabilities is fragmented and does not adequately disclose their current situation. People with disabilities in Ethiopia are one of the most neglected groups within the population and have less access to social services, employment and health services. The layout of buildings and societal attitudes further prevent people with disabilities from fulfilling their rights.  Women, children and the elderly with disabilities face even further discriminations as a result of their sex and age. 

The general trend is of negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities in Ethiopia, which impacts on their personality and confidence when interacting with others. However, factors like the existence of rehabilitation services are playing a role in changing this attitude. As in many other countries of the world, disability service specification in Ethiopia commenced with a medical model but several organizations providing services to people with disabilities are beginning to change this for the better. Nonetheless, their number is few when compared to the growing number of people with disabilities.

People with disabilities are equally entitled to the human rights preserved in numerous international human rights documents as all other members of the global population. As indicated in the FDRE constitution, these documents are also part and parcel of the law of the land but the study finds that major polices and programs within the country do not pay enough consideration to the rights and interests of people with disabilities within their strategies. Several issues, including for example the HIV/AIDS communication strategy, are not disability-sensitive and neglect people with disabilities in their design.

 

Conclusions: 

The living conditions of people with disabilities in Ethiopia has been analysed in the research on the basis of primary and secondary data. The analysis takes into account the conceptual framework of disability, the magnitude of disability, the economic and health situations for people with disabilities, the circumstances for the most marginalised people with disabilities, socio-cultural attitudes towards disability, the role of national and international human rights organizations in addressing the issue of disability and provision of services to people with disabilities. 

Recommendations: 

The financial and human capacity of the different associations of people with disabilities should be improved to facilitate their advocacy for their members. The associations should be engaged in strategic efforts to better address the issue of disability including lobbying and advocacy, providing legal protection for people with disabilities, increasing participation at different stages of development policies and programs and raising awareness so as to change society’s negative attitude. Assertive training should be given to people with disabilities themselves, to help them accept their circumstances, develop and reach their potentials. Strong networking among organizations will enable them to actively engage themselves in advocacy, research and joint planning. 

Research should be conducted in areas where little is known about people with disabilities including the situation of women and the elderly with disabilities, HIV/AIDS and disability, the implementation status of the international human right instruments that Ethiopia has signed (but yet to ratify), the application for laws on disability and their limitations and the health circumstances of people with disabilities.