Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on Advanced Research in Social Sciences Studies
Year: 2025
DOI:
[PDF]
Intersectional Perspective of Disability and Forced Migration
Zimkitha Mahlungulu, Nene Ernest Khalema
ABSTRACT:
Studies on migration often address the overall effect of forced migration on large populations without focusing on the plight of people living with a disability. This paper uses extant literature to analyse the intersectionality of disability and forced migration to argue that during forced migration, those living with disability are vulnerable in both internal and transnational migration. This invites analyses of the migration–disability intersectionality within spaces of origin, transitional spaces, and destination-host spaces. Too often, stakeholders in disability matters are not doing enough to contain the plight of the disabled. The analysis reveals that first, despite the causes of forced migration, in the spaces of origin, factors affect the disabled, namely, lack of economic opportunities, discrimination, conflicts and poor health care add to their plight. Second, for people living with disability, the transitional spaces are fraught with vulnerabilities such as uncertainty, transport, temporary shelter, food and safety, which no authority addresses. Third, in destination-host nations, people living with disability and hoping that they are finally in a safe environment experience risks compounding their vulnerability, such as poor health care and residence, lack of education and skills for living, employment, and systemic protection. Recommendations are advanced to the State in both nations of origin and destination–host nations to alleviate the people living in migration-prone spaces. These are disability and migration-specific legislation and policies addressing economic, social and political interventions for people with disabilities during forced migration.
Keywords: Migration, Disability, vulnerability, intersectionality, forced migration, plight