A/HRC/44/41 disabilities in an affected population or to disaggregate data on needs and risks). However, direct engagement with persons with disabilities is necessary to understand their experiences and perspectives (for example, experience of discrimination or targeted violence, or their views on priorities).42 Qualitative data-collection methods bring much added value through participatory processes and tools; unfortunately they still represent the exception rather than the rule.43 54. In 2017, a multi-sector assessment of the situation of internally displaced persons with disabilities in a camp for internally displaced persons, revealed that access barriers were more severe for people with psychological disabilities, unaccompanied people with disabilities and women with disabilities because of discrimination, and that some aid workers had poor attitudes towards people with disabilities. Those findings resulted in a clear road map for all actors demonstrating how to improve access and the participation and protection of persons with disabilities.44 55. Despite the many challenges, increased efforts must be undertaken to use qualitative data-collection methods with the meaningful participation of internally displaced persons with disabilities, ideally through or in collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities.45 E. Protection 56. Persons with disabilities face inequalities and heightened protection risks in situations of displacement. They often face abandonment, neglect, violence or denial of access to essential services. Persons with limited mobility and persons living in institutions may be unable to flee from trouble in the first place, leaving them exposed to violence or left to survive on their own while others have fled. Experience in various countries shows that older persons with disabilities found it harder to leave conflict zones than younger adults or older persons without disabilities. Some delayed moving or stayed behind because of functional limitations, poor health, loss of support, reluctance to leave their own communities in the absence of anywhere else to live, because of deep connections with their homes and land, or because they could not afford to leave.46 During conflicts, families of persons with disabilities may have to choose between risking their own lives while trying to save a relative with a disability or leaving that relative behind.47 Lack of emergency warning systems adapted for persons with sensory disabilities can also prevent their safe evacuation (CRPD/C/UKR/CO/1, para. 22).48 57. Persons with disabilities experience violence at much higher rates than others and may experience targeted violence and abuse on the basis of their disability49 – risks that can be exacerbated in situations of displacement, including in camp settings, because of high levels of stigmatization, social isolation and the loss of protective community networks. Loss of assistive devices can also deprive persons with disabilities of independence, forcing them to rely on others and thereby increasing the risk of exploitation and abuse. Among the types of violations brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur are physical, sexual and gender42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 12 Inter-Agency Standing Committee guidelines, p. 24. See contribution from Light for the World. See International Organization for Migration and Humanity and Inclusion, “Access to humanitarian services for people with disabilities. Situational analysis in Bentiu protection of civilians site, South Sudan”. For example, to enable persons with disabilities to give their informed consent, information on the use of their data may need to be provided in multiple formats. It may also be necessary to allocate more time for explanation and arriving at a decision. Some persons with disabilities may wish to ask a trusted person to support them in making an informed decision. See Inter-Agency Standing Committee guidelines, p. 26. See contributions by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and HelpAge International. See Human Rights Watch, “Central African Republic: peoples with disabilities left behind”, 28 April 2015. See also contribution from Amnesty International. See, for example, WHO and the World Bank, World Report on Disability (2011), p. 59.