Breaking Barriers: Advancing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Every Context

A Global Commitment to Inclusion

Adopted in 2006, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) marked a milestone in promoting equality and inclusion for all. More than 190 countries have now ratified it, committing to remove barriers and uphold dignity and participation for persons with disabilities.

However, persons with disabilities continue to face amplified barriers in four contexts: rural and remote areas, migration and displacement, the justice system, and institutional settings. The report calls for stronger action to ensure that no one is left behind.

Rural and Remote Areas

Limited access to healthcare, education, assistive technology, and transport continues to exclude persons with disabilities in rural areas. In many countries, electricity and digital access remain scarce, restricting independence for those using assistive devices.

Women and children are especially affected. Gaps in maternal health care and schooling remain wide, and climate change further heightens vulnerability by disrupting rural livelihoods and support systems.

Migration and Displacement

Refugees and internally displaced persons with disabilities often remain unseen in humanitarian responses. Inaccessible facilities, lack of interpreters, and limited data restrict their access to services.
Women and girls face greater risks of violence, and older refugees experience deep economic insecurity. Where disability inclusion is integrated into migration and protection policies, access to health and education improves for all.

The Criminal Justice System

Barriers persist at every stage of the justice process. Only half of police stations and courts are wheelchair-accessible, and few provide sign-language interpretation or accessible documents. Persons with disabilities are also overrepresented in prisons, where poor conditions and isolation can worsen disabilities. The report urges States to provide accommodations and ensure equal recognition before the law.

Institutional Settings

Institutionalization remains widespread and is described as a form of violence and discrimination. Millions of persons with disabilities, including children and older persons, are still confined due to poverty or lack of community care. While some countries have taken steps toward deinstitutionalization, progress remains slow and uneven.

The Way Forward

The 2025 Report of the Secretary-General (A/80/423) report highlights positive actions such as expanding inclusive infrastructure, reforming discriminatory laws, and strengthening community-based services. It calls on States to train professionals, apply accessibility standards, collect disaggregated data, replace guardianship laws with supported decision-making, and invest in independent living.

The CRPD reminds us that every person matters, in every context. Building inclusive systems brings societies closer to a world where everyone can live and participate with dignity.

Read the full report here.