Enabling human rights of persons with disabilities in post-conflict contexts: interventions and outcomes in Cambodia

This research explores how interventions have made an impact on the human rights of PWDs, particularly those caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war in Cambodia, which has developed as a post-conflict country. Disability, despite being emphasized from a medical viewpoint, the adoption of UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities completely changed it to a social model under which disability began to be regarded as something society has created. As long as disability continues in society, to investigate the relationship between disability and society, we need a lens which addresses this link appropriately. Whilst conflict causes disability to a large extent, the study regarding how PWDs can exercise their human rights in postconflict era has not matured, even though many interventions have been undertaken by regional bodies, state, international aid, and NGOs. In addressing the experiences of persons with disabilities and related interventions, this research employs social exclusion and inclusion, and the capability approach to explore the phenomenon of human rights invasions and efficient remedy for them with dynamics. Social exclusion and inclusion look at the process of how people are deprived of opportunities, and the capability approach states the importance of real opportunities; both can be a lens to stress the demand for a holistic approach to improve the human rights of PWDs.