cabar.asia
Kazakhstan: What People with Disabilities Have Faced During Social Isolation
By: Laura Kopzhasarova
Kazakhstan has 694,734 registered persons with disabilities, according to the website "Social protection of people with disabilities" of the ministry of social protection of the population. 56 per cent of them are women.
During the coronavirus-induced restrictions, Kazakhstanis with disabilities have become less aware of and protected from Covid-19 and faced increasing gender-based violence.
Lyazzat Kaltaeva
Chair of the Association of women with disabilities "Shyrak"
Photo: personal archive
Photo: personal archive
— During the period of restrictive measures, in my opinion, the most vulnerable people were those who did not have access to information. People with disabilities were fully isolated. The information about coronavirus, preventive measures, seriousness and justification of measures carried out by the government was absolutely unavailable for the people with mental and sensory impairments – hearing, visual, speech. They either did not know or learned too late, or were not aware of the situation risk. Therefore, they were most vulnerable to the risk.
The second factor is the increase of the risk of domestic violence. Hidden facts of violence that had existed before have become even more hidden. And the women with disabilities were the most vulnerable. Such persons have contacted our NGO. However, they preferred not to tell the details and did not want to receive publicity.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to keep track of the growth dynamics. As such data are not maintained, the cases of women with disabilities are not assigned to a special category. I think, we need these statistical data. The approaches to domestic violence cases, gender-based violence must be differentiated in regard to the complainants.
I often cite an example of Kenya, where we studied the practice of the Kenya Association to protect the rights of persons with mental disorders. They have particular rules and standards of service provision for social workers, forensic medical examiners, police officers and courts regarding persons with disabilities, mental and intellectual disabilities.
If we do not maintain such statistical data, these people won't be able to seek help, or will be misunderstood, or won't be able to keep the evidences of the offence. Therefore, we need to disaggregate the inquiries. We need to have a manual for services handling the victims of domestic violence, and a separate manual for handing the persons with disabilities.
During the lockdown, many people from families with mentally disordered persons have come to me. They usually attend some day hospitals and this time is like a pause, a chance to do their routine, work for the family. Such day hospitals have been closed during the lockdown. They confessed that they could not tolerate this and a person with mental disorders should not stay within four walls all the time. If it's a big family living in a small apartment, tensions will rise.
When the measures were very tough, everything was banned for everyone, regardless of the needs of special categories of people. Restrictive measures are a must, but families who have persons with mental disorders must be allowed to walk outside at certain times.
Generally speaking, the lockdown period has not revealed but aggravated the problems that have always existed in the field of rights of persons with disabilities.
First of all, I'm referring to isolation. We are raising the question of disaggregation and de-institutionalisation of large health establishments, or in old terms homes for the disabled. These facilities with their order and regulations can find it hard to track the facts of violence. Their patients are not always able to or may report their problem.
Home isolation also denies the opportunity to go outside. Such questions of accessibility are just about to be raised here. A person with disability must have an opportunity to go outside, or even to seek help or leave the abuser on their own in case of a threatened violence. If a person cannot go out of the house, he/she cannot either counter violence or prevent it.
Communication is a big problem, too. Persons with sensory disorders have minimum level of communication in case of aggression or violence. People with hearing impairments can somehow turn to a sign language interpreter via WhatsApp. Here the point is the provision of persons with disabilities with smartphones with such functions, internet, etc. People with visual impairments have difficulties with finding appropriate channels of communication.
The second factor is the increase of the risk of domestic violence. Hidden facts of violence that had existed before have become even more hidden. And the women with disabilities were the most vulnerable. Such persons have contacted our NGO. However, they preferred not to tell the details and did not want to receive publicity.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to keep track of the growth dynamics. As such data are not maintained, the cases of women with disabilities are not assigned to a special category. I think, we need these statistical data. The approaches to domestic violence cases, gender-based violence must be differentiated in regard to the complainants.
I often cite an example of Kenya, where we studied the practice of the Kenya Association to protect the rights of persons with mental disorders. They have particular rules and standards of service provision for social workers, forensic medical examiners, police officers and courts regarding persons with disabilities, mental and intellectual disabilities.
If we do not maintain such statistical data, these people won't be able to seek help, or will be misunderstood, or won't be able to keep the evidences of the offence. Therefore, we need to disaggregate the inquiries. We need to have a manual for services handling the victims of domestic violence, and a separate manual for handing the persons with disabilities.
During the lockdown, many people from families with mentally disordered persons have come to me. They usually attend some day hospitals and this time is like a pause, a chance to do their routine, work for the family. Such day hospitals have been closed during the lockdown. They confessed that they could not tolerate this and a person with mental disorders should not stay within four walls all the time. If it's a big family living in a small apartment, tensions will rise.
When the measures were very tough, everything was banned for everyone, regardless of the needs of special categories of people. Restrictive measures are a must, but families who have persons with mental disorders must be allowed to walk outside at certain times.
Generally speaking, the lockdown period has not revealed but aggravated the problems that have always existed in the field of rights of persons with disabilities.
First of all, I'm referring to isolation. We are raising the question of disaggregation and de-institutionalisation of large health establishments, or in old terms homes for the disabled. These facilities with their order and regulations can find it hard to track the facts of violence. Their patients are not always able to or may report their problem.
Home isolation also denies the opportunity to go outside. Such questions of accessibility are just about to be raised here. A person with disability must have an opportunity to go outside, or even to seek help or leave the abuser on their own in case of a threatened violence. If a person cannot go out of the house, he/she cannot either counter violence or prevent it.
Communication is a big problem, too. Persons with sensory disorders have minimum level of communication in case of aggression or violence. People with hearing impairments can somehow turn to a sign language interpreter via WhatsApp. Here the point is the provision of persons with disabilities with smartphones with such functions, internet, etc. People with visual impairments have difficulties with finding appropriate channels of communication.
During the emergency period that was valid in the country in March thru May 2020, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Kazakhstan held the rapid assessment of needs of persons with disabilities amid the coronavirus epidemic. The emphasis was placed on women with disabilities by the example of Turkestan region and the town of Shymkent. The assessment covered 76 persons with different types of disabilities living in these regions.
The assessment revealed a low level of awareness of coronavirus among the persons with disabilities – 30.3 per cent of respondents did not know about it. Moreover, rural residents were 10 per cent less aware of it than urban residents.
The assessment revealed a low level of awareness of coronavirus among the persons with disabilities – 30.3 per cent of respondents did not know about it. Moreover, rural residents were 10 per cent less aware of it than urban residents.
The most vulnerable group in terms of access to information is hearing impaired persons. 88.9 per cent of persons who are hard of hearing or deaf did not know about Covid-19. The main reason was the lack of information in a format available to them on the media and social networks. They did not understand anything without sign language interpretation on TV news.
Persons with disabilities turned out to be poorly aware of coronavirus symptoms, measures of prevention and protection from Covid-19, places where they could go if they are ill, measures introduced by the government to stop the infection from spreading and to protect persons with disabilities during the emergency.
The main source of information for PWDs was television, then internet and social media, in order of importance. According to respondents, social workers provided the least information. They rarely visited persons with disabilities at home during the lockdown. 57.9 per cent of respondents said no one visited them.
During the emergency and lockdown, persons with disabilities did not have enough sanitation and hygienic supplies to protect them from coronavirus – less than a half of respondents did not have facemasks by the time of the survey. 46.1 per cent could not purchase personal protective equipment because of the shortage of money, increased prices in pharmacies and stores, or stock-out.
The main source of information for PWDs was television, then internet and social media, in order of importance. According to respondents, social workers provided the least information. They rarely visited persons with disabilities at home during the lockdown. 57.9 per cent of respondents said no one visited them.
During the emergency and lockdown, persons with disabilities did not have enough sanitation and hygienic supplies to protect them from coronavirus – less than a half of respondents did not have facemasks by the time of the survey. 46.1 per cent could not purchase personal protective equipment because of the shortage of money, increased prices in pharmacies and stores, or stock-out.
In addition to personal protective equipment, respondents needed food during the lockdown, as well as financial support, legal aid regarding loans. By the way, only one tenth of respondents received one-time assistance, namely food and personal protective equipment from volunteers and community-based organisations during this period.
Special emphasis of the survey was placed on the influence of restrictive measures on the rise in domestic violence cases. According to the assessment, the risk of abuse against persons with disabilities from partners, husbands and family members increases during the emergency.
According to the survey, family relationships deteriorated during the lockdown in 38 per cent of respondents. Among the reasons were loss of work and loss of income of family members that caused deterioration of financial situation, fear and panic because of no confidence in stable future.
More than two thirds of respondents specified that they have no one to go to in case of abuse. Many persons with disabilities are dependent both physically and financially on their family members who take care of them, and often have no personal mobile phones. Hearing-impaired persons are restricted in their access to advocacy and protection from abuse.
Special emphasis of the survey was placed on the influence of restrictive measures on the rise in domestic violence cases. According to the assessment, the risk of abuse against persons with disabilities from partners, husbands and family members increases during the emergency.
According to the survey, family relationships deteriorated during the lockdown in 38 per cent of respondents. Among the reasons were loss of work and loss of income of family members that caused deterioration of financial situation, fear and panic because of no confidence in stable future.
More than two thirds of respondents specified that they have no one to go to in case of abuse. Many persons with disabilities are dependent both physically and financially on their family members who take care of them, and often have no personal mobile phones. Hearing-impaired persons are restricted in their access to advocacy and protection from abuse.
Almost one fourth of respondents named sign language interpreters as channels of help in difficult situations and in case of domestic abuse. In addition, almost half of them said that no one helped them and that they did not need any help.
More than a half of respondents said they did not need help in such situations. The rest did not know who to turn to, or did not want to go anywhere because of a sense of shame and fear of more violence in future.
According to the assessment, people with disabilities become the most vulnerable during emergencies in terms of full access to information, means and services. Moreover, the pandemic increases and aggravates the risks of gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities.
Awareness means protection
Gaziza Moldakulova
National coordinator of population, development and gender programmes of the UNFPA in Kazakhstan
Photo: UNFPA
Photo: UNFPA
— International surveys at the global level have proved that people with disabilities are exposed to violence more than people without disabilities. This is because they are not mobile; it is harder for them to report the facts of abuse, to go outside, to escape and go to shelters.
People with mental disabilities often do not understand they are exposed to violence, which is used by abusers. Some people do not leave because they live with the abuser and depend on him. This and other factors make persons with disabilities face all types of violence. In addition, many people do not know that violence can be not only physical, but also economic, psychological and other.
We have proved this original hypothesis on the basis of Kazakhstan cases. In 2019, we carried out a pilot survey in the region where many of our innovations are implemented – in Turkestan region. This is a densely populated region with the highest poverty and violence rates. Almost one-fifth – 18 per cent – of person with disabilities of Kazakhstan live here. Moreover, this is a very patriarchal region, where people feel ashamed of speaking about violence.
The results of the 2019 survey, which show the overall situation of the disabled in the country, proved that they are really exposed to more violence rather than other categories. Introduction of restrictive measures due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 aggravated their situation.
Many international studies have reported the increase in the number of domestic abuse cases during isolation. Permanent stay in the same premises causes irritation of partners. Deterioration of the economic situation in a family is also one of the factors of domestic violence.
Access to the protection services was restricted, and sometimes unavailable. Police officers and social workers did not visit persons with disabilities due to lockdown restrictions; crisis centres were closed. The first few months were very difficult and shocking both for the disabled people and the healthy people.
We have interviewed the female respondents whom we had interviewed before the lockdown in order to check if Kazakhstani women with disabilities were more exposed to violence from their relatives and partners during isolation.
Not to put them at more risk from their partners after the telephone interview questions, we prepared indirect, oblique questions. For example, we did not ask: does your spouse beat you, are you exposed to any type of violence? Instead, we asked: have your family relationships deteriorated because of restrictive measures, to hear from the interviewees their simple answer "yes."
Unfortunately, the situation of violence during the emergency and lockdown proved to have been deteriorated.
In addition, we wanted to find out how well are our persons with disabilities are protected from coronavirus – if they have all necessary information about the infection, protective measures, how well they are equipped with personal protective equipment, etc.
We should consider all identified issues in aggregate – low level of access to information and low level of awareness of coronavirus, insufficient preventive measures and equipment with the means and services meant to prevent and protect from coronavirus, restricted recourse to help in case of violence, etc.
Low level of awareness causes all other problems. If an individual is not aware, he does not have any requests. If one knows what Covid-19 is and how to protect from it, one will buy masks, gloves, sanitizers, soap, disinfectants. If they are not available in a pharmacy, it means restricted access. If they cost much, just like before the lockdown, the point is to ensure provision with personal protective equipment.
In other words, one needs to be aware, to have an opportunity to buy, the drug must be available and affordable. Of course, awareness plays a significant role in the protection from violence. If victims are not aware of the phenomenon of violence, do not know their rights, do not know where to go in a moment of crisis, how to be protected, they will eventually tolerate violence.
On the basis of evidences received during the evidential research, we, jointly with the National Committee for women's affairs and family and demographic policy of the President of Kazakhstan and the Association of Women with Disabilities "Shyrak", have developed video and audio clips with sign language interpretation in Russian and Kazakh languages to raise awareness of people with various types of disabilities.
People with mental disabilities often do not understand they are exposed to violence, which is used by abusers. Some people do not leave because they live with the abuser and depend on him. This and other factors make persons with disabilities face all types of violence. In addition, many people do not know that violence can be not only physical, but also economic, psychological and other.
We have proved this original hypothesis on the basis of Kazakhstan cases. In 2019, we carried out a pilot survey in the region where many of our innovations are implemented – in Turkestan region. This is a densely populated region with the highest poverty and violence rates. Almost one-fifth – 18 per cent – of person with disabilities of Kazakhstan live here. Moreover, this is a very patriarchal region, where people feel ashamed of speaking about violence.
The results of the 2019 survey, which show the overall situation of the disabled in the country, proved that they are really exposed to more violence rather than other categories. Introduction of restrictive measures due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 aggravated their situation.
Many international studies have reported the increase in the number of domestic abuse cases during isolation. Permanent stay in the same premises causes irritation of partners. Deterioration of the economic situation in a family is also one of the factors of domestic violence.
Access to the protection services was restricted, and sometimes unavailable. Police officers and social workers did not visit persons with disabilities due to lockdown restrictions; crisis centres were closed. The first few months were very difficult and shocking both for the disabled people and the healthy people.
We have interviewed the female respondents whom we had interviewed before the lockdown in order to check if Kazakhstani women with disabilities were more exposed to violence from their relatives and partners during isolation.
Not to put them at more risk from their partners after the telephone interview questions, we prepared indirect, oblique questions. For example, we did not ask: does your spouse beat you, are you exposed to any type of violence? Instead, we asked: have your family relationships deteriorated because of restrictive measures, to hear from the interviewees their simple answer "yes."
Unfortunately, the situation of violence during the emergency and lockdown proved to have been deteriorated.
In addition, we wanted to find out how well are our persons with disabilities are protected from coronavirus – if they have all necessary information about the infection, protective measures, how well they are equipped with personal protective equipment, etc.
We should consider all identified issues in aggregate – low level of access to information and low level of awareness of coronavirus, insufficient preventive measures and equipment with the means and services meant to prevent and protect from coronavirus, restricted recourse to help in case of violence, etc.
Low level of awareness causes all other problems. If an individual is not aware, he does not have any requests. If one knows what Covid-19 is and how to protect from it, one will buy masks, gloves, sanitizers, soap, disinfectants. If they are not available in a pharmacy, it means restricted access. If they cost much, just like before the lockdown, the point is to ensure provision with personal protective equipment.
In other words, one needs to be aware, to have an opportunity to buy, the drug must be available and affordable. Of course, awareness plays a significant role in the protection from violence. If victims are not aware of the phenomenon of violence, do not know their rights, do not know where to go in a moment of crisis, how to be protected, they will eventually tolerate violence.
On the basis of evidences received during the evidential research, we, jointly with the National Committee for women's affairs and family and demographic policy of the President of Kazakhstan and the Association of Women with Disabilities "Shyrak", have developed video and audio clips with sign language interpretation in Russian and Kazakh languages to raise awareness of people with various types of disabilities.
These materials have been broadcasted on central and regional TV channels of Kazakhstan for several months.
The special needs of persons with disabilities identified and represented by us have been integrated into standard operating procedures on response to gender-based violence, instructions for local police inspectors across the country.
We have reported the results of the research to central and local authorities. The rapid assessment of special needs of people with different types of disabilities was carried out to report their situation during the lockdown to the government of Kazakhstan for them to efficiently respond to and solve their problems.
Knowing these needs, the state will respond and take measures faster. The principle we follow is that first we collect empirical data, and then we report the problem. We offer our recommendations and they listen to us.
We have seen the changes and they are ongoing. If strict lockdown is announced again because of the epidemiological situation, it will be less difficult for people with disabilities. At least, the government is willing to render aid, monitor the situation and meet the special needs of people with disabilities. I also expect the level of awareness to increase significantly among women with disabilities.
We have reported the results of the research to central and local authorities. The rapid assessment of special needs of people with different types of disabilities was carried out to report their situation during the lockdown to the government of Kazakhstan for them to efficiently respond to and solve their problems.
Knowing these needs, the state will respond and take measures faster. The principle we follow is that first we collect empirical data, and then we report the problem. We offer our recommendations and they listen to us.
We have seen the changes and they are ongoing. If strict lockdown is announced again because of the epidemiological situation, it will be less difficult for people with disabilities. At least, the government is willing to render aid, monitor the situation and meet the special needs of people with disabilities. I also expect the level of awareness to increase significantly among women with disabilities.
Inside story
Stories by the respondents:
"It's all over! That's how I can describe our situation during the strict lockdown. The main problem was that we were not allowed to go out. No one could bring food to me. I called the social worker, and she said she worked to schedule, but she did not come to me as appointed. She also said she couldn't go outside because of the ban from April to July. An employee of the Invataxi service was buying food for me, although it was not his duty.
No one told about coronavirus to us, no one provided us with facemasks. The only thing I received, or wheedled from the "Birgemiz" fund was 50 thousand tenge (120 dollars). In fact, I was feeling abandoned in this period. The situation was very difficult. In addition, the public utilities "killed" me morally by their incorrect bills. I became very nervous. My health condition and life, in general, got much worse."
No one told about coronavirus to us, no one provided us with facemasks. The only thing I received, or wheedled from the "Birgemiz" fund was 50 thousand tenge (120 dollars). In fact, I was feeling abandoned in this period. The situation was very difficult. In addition, the public utilities "killed" me morally by their incorrect bills. I became very nervous. My health condition and life, in general, got much worse."
"We get information about coronavirus from social media. I think this information is partial. Television is the official source of full information. Unfortunately, little information has sign language interpretation. I don't know anything about governmental measures.
Since the beginning of the emergency, mutual understanding in the family worsened. Now we quarrel in the family because of the shortage of money. There are no jobs for the people with disabilities. Our financial standing does not allow us to buy personal protective equipment for coronavirus and enough food. Facemasks must be changed often, but their price in pharmacies has risen several times. I have three children. We have not received any help from anyone. We are isolated from the society. There's no communication with the outside world without sign language interpreter."
Since the beginning of the emergency, mutual understanding in the family worsened. Now we quarrel in the family because of the shortage of money. There are no jobs for the people with disabilities. Our financial standing does not allow us to buy personal protective equipment for coronavirus and enough food. Facemasks must be changed often, but their price in pharmacies has risen several times. I have three children. We have not received any help from anyone. We are isolated from the society. There's no communication with the outside world without sign language interpreter."
"I became ill once the lockdown was announced, and I am still ill. I sold everything I could to receive treatment and buy medications. I am a massage therapist and I had no work during the lockdown. I still cannot find a job as no one employs a person with the 1st degree disability. I live together with my father and mother in one room, all of us are disabled. I feel very tired, the government does not help us.
I am a visually impaired person, but I know about coronavirus and protective measures. No one came to us during the lockdown, I've never seen any assistant. I bought facemasks and personal protective equipment by myself. What they showed on TV about free distribution of PPE seems like a fantasy to me."
I am a visually impaired person, but I know about coronavirus and protective measures. No one came to us during the lockdown, I've never seen any assistant. I bought facemasks and personal protective equipment by myself. What they showed on TV about free distribution of PPE seems like a fantasy to me."
"The biggest problem for me during the lockdown was to get adult diapers. I didn't see any help provided to persons with disabilities. Once volunteers brought some food to us in March, and that's all. No one came to help us afterwards.
I have a loan – I live in a store that is a collateral with a bank. In fact, I don't have a house. My money is running out. I am tired of borrowing. In fact, I don't live, I survive. Social workers do not call me to know how I am doing. My son is also a disabled. I don't know where to seek help."
I have a loan – I live in a store that is a collateral with a bank. In fact, I don't have a house. My money is running out. I am tired of borrowing. In fact, I don't live, I survive. Social workers do not call me to know how I am doing. My son is also a disabled. I don't know where to seek help."
"I had to go to my mother living in Saryagash and leave my kids because my husband beat me. When I recovered myself and calmed down, I wanted to take my kids, but I didn't have time. The lockdown was announced and I wasn't permitted to pass police checkpoints. My husband and my mother-in-law do not answer my phone calls. I am depressed now. I don't know what to do and where to seek help."
"Once the emergency began, my mother-in-law lost her job. Relations in the family got worse. Children do not attend school. We are short of money. My husband became even more aggressive. He sometimes beats children. We did not receive any assistance, namely personal protective equipment and food. My mother-in-law failed to apply for welfare benefit in the amount of 42,500 tenge (102 dollars). I am keeping silent about the situation, I just tolerate."
Officially
The CABAR.asia editorial staff has failed to get comments from the ministry of labour and social protection of the population of Kazakhstan, the president's National Committee for women's affairs and family and demographic policy regarding the outcomes of the research and generally the assessment of performance of state bodies during the emergency and ongoing restrictive measures caused by the pandemic.
In reply to the message of our correspondent as an individual, the ministry of labour of Kazakhstan mentioned the order of the ministry "On some issues of provision of public services in social and labour sphere and of food package to particular categories of people during the emergency and restrictive measures" adopted on March 25, 2020.
Its purpose was to stop the spread of coronavirus and to provide social support to socially vulnerable groups of people. In particular, the document provides for remote medical and social assessment on the basis of an electronic form submitted via "Electronic request" on the "Electronic government" website, automatic extension of disability terms, degree of loss of general and occupational capacity, as well as individual rehabilitation programme.
In addition, according to the reply, local executive bodies have provided food packages during the emergency period. Among the recipients were children under 16 with disabilities, persons of all ages with disabilities of all degrees, as well as parents taking care of children with disabilities residing in towns where lockdown was announced.
Besides, according to the ministry of labour, local executive bodies prepared stockpiles of personal protective equipment at employment offices and social programme offices, employment departments and centres, medical and social services. Namely, more than 1.7 million pieces of face masks, 14 thousand protective suits, 35 thousand litres of sanitizers, 992 thousand pairs of gloves.
According to the reply, social protection bodies will continue to supply personal protective equipment.
Its purpose was to stop the spread of coronavirus and to provide social support to socially vulnerable groups of people. In particular, the document provides for remote medical and social assessment on the basis of an electronic form submitted via "Electronic request" on the "Electronic government" website, automatic extension of disability terms, degree of loss of general and occupational capacity, as well as individual rehabilitation programme.
In addition, according to the reply, local executive bodies have provided food packages during the emergency period. Among the recipients were children under 16 with disabilities, persons of all ages with disabilities of all degrees, as well as parents taking care of children with disabilities residing in towns where lockdown was announced.
Besides, according to the ministry of labour, local executive bodies prepared stockpiles of personal protective equipment at employment offices and social programme offices, employment departments and centres, medical and social services. Namely, more than 1.7 million pieces of face masks, 14 thousand protective suits, 35 thousand litres of sanitizers, 992 thousand pairs of gloves.
According to the reply, social protection bodies will continue to supply personal protective equipment.
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