New Amendments to Law on Disability Assessments Strengthen Child Rights Implementation

Skopje, 2 February 2026: UNICEF welcomes the recent adoption of amendments to the Law on Disability Assessments, a significant step toward ensuring that every child with a disability can access the support they need and opportunities to reach their full potential they need.

A functioning and effective disability assessment system is a gateway through which children and youth receive education, health and social protection services tailored to their development needs, as well as disability related cash benefits. Developed by the Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth with UNICEF technical support, the amendments ensure the forthcoming universal functional assessment system fully reflects the specific needs and developmental characteristics of children and youth.

The amendments build on the strong results achieved through the Government’s longstanding commitment and investments, supported by UNICEF and other partners. By preserving institutional structures and professional expertise for assessing children, the new law ensures that these valuable capacities continue to meet children’s needs effectively into the future.

Key advancements in strengthening children’s rights include:

• Full alignment with global standards:  The disability assessment for children and youth will be aligned with the International Classification` of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The new methodology will adopt a multidisciplinary approach involving the education, health and social protection sectors and will support the holistic participation of children in society.
• Child-focused expertise and free access for families. The revised law maintains specialized assessment structures and professional teams for children and youth and guarantees disability assessments for them remain free of charge for families, with costs covered by the Health Insurance Fund.
• Continuity through strengthened data systems:  By retaining the national electronic register of assessed children and youth, they system supports monitoring of service delivery and tracking child outcomes and provides robust data to inform evidence-based planning and budgeting of services.
• Meaningful parental involvement: The revised law ensures that parents continue to play an active role in the assessment process, recognizing their unique insights into the child’s functioning and needs and enabling them to better support their child’s development.
• Guaranteed accessibility and non‑discrimination:  The amendments introduce reasonable accommodations, such as sign-language interpretation and accessible materials, at no additional cost, in line with international obligations on accessibility and non-discrimination.

UNICEF commends the country for reaffirming its commitment to the rights and inclusion of children and youth with disabilities. UNICEF stands ready to continue supporting the national system and the alignment of the methodology to the specific needs of children, so that every child can access the support and services they need and have opportunities to reach their potential.