The webinars were organized by UNHCR together with CBM-Italia-the Christian Bling Mission, Ledha-the League for Rights for People with Disabilities, Special Olympics, Disabled Peoples' International, and Rete Italiana Disabilità e Sviluppo (RIDS).

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 15% of the world's population has a disability. This would indicate that approximately 12 million people with disabilities have been forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, and persecution.

However, the real number is probably much higher, because often people with disabilities remain invisible within their community.

People with disabilities are at the highest risk of abuse

Difficulties related to fleeing affect people with disabilities in a disproportionate way: Often they are the ones at the highest risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse, they encounter barriers to accessing basic services and they are often excluded from receiving education and subsistence opportunities.

People with disabilities are not a homogenous group; women, men, youth, and the elderly, as well as people with different types of disabilities, are affected in different ways. Women, children, and the elderly are usully at higher risk of discrimination, violence, and exploitation.

The UNHCR points out that people with disabilities, just like any other person, contribute in various ways to their communities when barriers to inclusion are removed. The organization developed a guide in cooperation with the International Disability Alliance dedicated to sector experts.

Meetings to promote the process of inclusion

The webinar cycle aims to promote knowledge on the topic of disability in cases of forced migration and to offer tools to be applied in Italy to the basic principles contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). It also aims to support strategies that will promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

"People with disabilities contribute to the improvement of our societies making them more open and inclusive," declared Chiara Cardoletti, UNHCR representative in Italy, the Holy Sea, and the Republic of San Marino.

"UNHCR is committed to work to remove the physical and social barriers refugees with disabilities face, allowing them to fully exercise their rights and pursue their aspirations," she added.

The cycle of meetings will end on 15 June and it is aimed at staff working at the shelters, organizations partners of UNHCR, and all those who are involved in different ways in the protection of refugees, asylum seekers, and people without nationality with a disability.

Course participation is free, registering for the meetings is open, and for social workers training credits will be given at the end.