Community based rehabilitation: a strategy for peace-building

Area of Science:

• Conflict resolution studies
• Disability studies
• International development

Background:

• Peace-building differs from peacekeeping, particularly in addressing vertical and low-intensity conflicts.
• Critiques exist regarding the ethical basis of imposing liberal values through peace-building in non-democratic societies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the peace-building potential of community-based approaches to disability.
• To describe the practice and impact of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) in armed conflict settings.
• To explore the ethical foundations of peace-building through community initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) strategies in diverse country contexts.
• Examination of practical implementation and outcomes of CBR in post-conflict environments.
• Ethical inquiry into community-driven peace-building models.

Main Results:

• Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) demonstrates significant peace-building properties in conflict-affected areas.
• Disability serves as a potent catalyst for inter-factional cooperation during post-conflict reconstruction.
• CBR strategies present both benefits and challenges when applied to peace-building.

Conclusions:

• Civil society-led community initiatives are effective in mitigating conflict risks, offering an alternative to state-level interventions.
• Peace-building through practical, community-based actions, particularly concerning disability, is ethically grounded and impactful.