Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM

The situation is somewhat different for women. The proportion of women above 11 who are married issimilar to the one of men for non-disabled women (54.3%), and it is double for polygamy (5.1%), whichcorresponds to an average of two wives for each polygamous man. Getting married and having children areessential components of social acceptability for women in Afghan culture. However, women with physical,sensorial, mental and associated types of disability face difficulties in getting married. Only women havingepilepsy or some other form of seizures, are often married.An essential factor to be taken into consideration is the age at which a person became disabled.Social acceptanceis paramountin determiningthe quality oflife of personswith disability,even more soin traditionalsocieties wherefamily andcommunity arethe main supportsystemsThe results show that among women aged 11 to 25, the proportion of non-disabled already married (38.6%)is a lot higher than among young women with disability (between 4.5% for sensorial disability and 13.3%for physical disability). The only exceptions again are women with epilepsy or some other form of seizureswho are a very high proportion (54.8%) in terms of getting married at an early age. Among older disabledwomen, widows constitute a high proportion. Figure 49 furthermore shows that:• Men and women with disability are, in both cases and for all types of disability except epilepsy, less likelyto get married than non-disabled men and women when they became disabled before the average ageof marriage in Afghanistan (18 for men and 15 for women).• While 53.5% of non-disabled men and 59.4% of non-disabled women aged above 11 are married, thefigures are slightly different according to gender. For men, disabled before the age of 18, the chancesof getting married are higher for the physically disabled (43.0% are married) than for other categories:31.9% of those with sensorial disability, 35.3% of those with mental disability and 28.0% of those withassociated disability.• For women the marriage picture is the grimmest for those who became physically disabled before theage of 15: only 20.0% are married, in comparison to 30.3% of those women with sensorial disability,30.4% of those women with associated disability and 36.8% of those reporting epilepsy/seizures.23.1% women having a mental disability before the age of 15 are married.As stated earlier, physical disability for men does not directly challenge their ability to earn a living. Moreover,physically disabled men, especially those disabled due to war and its consequences, are visible groups whohave a place and consideration within society. A number of Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPO) have beencreated and are ruled by former Mujahidin who are war survivors. Special efforts are being made to ensureincome-generation and economic integration for them. On the contrary, when women become physicallydisabled, their contributing role within the family is strongly challenged: more specifically their ability tobring up children.Inclusion or Exclusion in Community CelebrationsSocial acceptance is paramount in determining the quality of life of persons with disability, even more so intraditional societies where family and community are the main support systems. The position and considerationwithin the family and the community will determine a series of other factors, such as self-esteem, access toeducation and receiving proper health care in case of need. “It is very difficult (…) to determine what thewords ‘social integration’ mean in a context where segregation occurs within the private space of the homeand where women in many Afghan communities only interact socially at rare events such as weddings andfunerals”. 43Communities in Afghanistan are closely knit and the year is punctuated by a number of celebrations. Theparticipation of persons with disability within these various ceremonies can be considered a sign of certainacceptance and respect within the society. This is probably where the perceptions of the causes of disabilitycome in: those who are perceived as having made a sacrifice for the country or as victims of war injuries are43COLERIDGE P. (1998), op. cit.66 Understanding the Challenge Ahead