The Impact of War on Persons with Disabilities in Ukraine.

As of March 2023, the war continues to rage across Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians have fled their country in search of safety and security, millions more have been displaced internally or remain stranded in affected areas, and hundreds of thousands have been forcibly deported/ relocated to Russia. Multiple and increasing civilian casualties are being reported; critical civilian infrastructure is being deliberately targeted and destroyed (see Sharapov et al. (2022b).

Within the context of this catastrophe, it is crucial to remember that 15% of the civilian population caught up in the conflict will have a disability. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires State Parties to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict. UN Security Council Resolution 2475 calls upon Member States and parties to armed conflicts to protect persons with disabilities in conflict situations. However, as the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Context of Armed Conflict notes, ‘Persons with disabilities tend to be disproportionately affected by armed conflicts. This seems not to register as an important reality to the extent that it should’.

This war hit Ukraine as the country began to emerge from the consequences of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic, as Sharapov’s et al. (2022a, 2022b) research suggests, magnified the vulnerability of persons with disabilities in Ukraine by limiting their access to healthcare, social services, and transport. It increased their social isolation and undermined their economic security. It shattered the resilience and vitality of organisations providing support to persons with disabilities.

The war unleashed upon Ukraine in February 2022 turned these vulnerable situations into a humanitarian catastrophe falling heavily on persons with disabilities across Ukraine. Despite the UNSC Resolution 2475 “recognising the need for timely data and information on, and analysis of, the impact of armed conflict on persons with disabilities”, little reliable research co-produced with persons with disabilities and their organisations in Ukraine exists as of today.

Candidates are invited to apply for a PhD position to research the impact of war on persons with disabilities in Ukraine and to work under the supervision of Dr Kiril Sharapov. Additional supervisors may include Dr Mandy Winterton or Dr Jason Ran. Additional guidance and support may be provided by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine – the largest network of organisations of persons with disabilities in Ukraine.

Successful applicants will join a thriving community of scholars and practitioners working in the field of migration at Edinburgh Napier University (https://www.migrationmobilities.com).

Potential topics may include:

-         The impact of war in Ukraine on the organisations of persons with disabilities and on disability activism.

-         The impact of the war-related social and economic disruptions and of the government responses on persons with disabilities in Ukraine.

-         The nature of the international humanitarian assistance to persons with disabilities in Ukraine, including the manner in which aid flows were established into and within Ukraine; the volume and sources of funding, and the responsiveness of the aid regime to the needs of persons with disabilities.

-         The impact of war in Ukraine on the everyday life of persons with disabilities (focusing on both temporal and spatial dimensions and relying on rhythmanalysis to explore the lived experiences of war).

-         Intersectionalities of disability and forced migration.

-         The impact of war on the health of combatants and civilians, including injuries and traumas inflicted through direct exposure to violence and weapons.

-         The role of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other UN mechanisms in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities in situations of armed conflicts/wars and post-war recovery. 

The candidate may choose to focus on individuals and communities who were displaced internally, across borders, those who may not have been displaced but faced periods of living under the Russian occupation; those who sought/received humanitarian protection in the EU or UK; persons with one or a combination of different impairments.

Proposed research methods should be informed by the ethos of co-production and participatory research.

Academic qualifications

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in the social sciences

English language requirement

IELTS score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components). Other, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Full details of the University’s policy are available online.

Essential attributes:

·        Experience of fundamental social science research approaches and techniques.

·        Competent in a discipline related to the project (human geography, sociology, migration studies, refugee studies, anthropology or socio-legal studies)

·        Knowledge of the discipline and of research methods and techniques to develop and complete an individual PhD-level research programme

·        Good written and oral communication skills

·        Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project

·        Good time management

·        Prior experience and/or advanced understanding of online research methods and/or of digital ethnography to mitigate both ethical and practical issues of accessing research participants.

·        The working knowledge of Ukrainian (or, alternatively, Russian).

Desirable attributes:

-         Candidates with personal or political ties to communities directly affected by social movements, human rights, or humanitarian work, or who have developed or are developing expertise for engaging productively with such communities, are strongly encouraged to apply.  

When applying, please quote the application reference SAS0181  on your form.

TO APPLY PLEASE CLICK ON THE 'INSTITUTION WEBSITE' LINK ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE.

 APPLICATION CHECKLIST

·        Completed online Edinburgh Napier Application Form

·        2-page CV

·        2 academic references, using the Postgraduate Educational Reference Form (Found on the application process page)

·        An outline research proposal (max 1500 words excluding references including context, literature, methods, ethics and impact sections)

·        A personal research statement, including your reflection on preparedness to undertake a PhD; and potential contribution to a positive and diverse PhD community

·        Evidence of proficiency in English (if appropriate).