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Emma Pearce

Emma Pearce leads the Women’s Refugee Commission’s disability projects, which seek to advance the rights and dignity of refugees and displaced persons with disabilities, through actions at global and country levels. These projects support the implementation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Conclusion on Refugees with Disabilities through field assessments to identify needs and potential strategies; the provision of training and technical advice to UNHCR country offices, their partners and disability organizations; and documenting and sharing lessons on disability inclusion in programs for refugees and displaced persons.

Prior to joining the Women’s Refugee Commission in 2012, Emma worked for international NGOs working in the disability field, including the CBM-Nossal Partnership for Disability Inclusive Development and Handicap International. She has experience supporting disability inclusion in a variety of countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Afghanistan. Throughout her work Emma has also engaged extensively with, and supported the capacity development of, disabled persons organizations. She has a particular interest in disability inclusion in the humanitarian sector, and has worked as a consultant in this field with a variety of agencies, including Plan International and the International Rescue Committee.

Emma holds a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Melbourne, and has recently completed a Graduate Diploma in International Relations, specializing in Human Rights and International Law.