UNICEF joins the people of Tajikistan in celebrating the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

UNICEF commends the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan for this important milestone towards strengthening the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. UNICEF is proud to have supported the journey towards this important step. Ratification of the Convention sends a clear message that every person, including every child, has equal dignity and rights and should be able to participate fully in society.

The Convention represents a commitment to a society where disability is understood through the lens of human rights and dignity, not charity or pity. It recognises persons with disabilities as rights-holders and affirms their right to participate fully and equally in all aspects of life, to make decisions about their own lives, and to contribute to their communities on an equal basis with others.

For children with disabilities, this commitment is particularly important.

Too many children with disabilities continue to face barriers to education, health and rehabilitation services, social protection and participation in community life. Some experience stigma and discrimination; others may be separated from their families or excluded from opportunities that other children take for granted.

Imagine a child with a physical disability who loves drawing and dreams of becoming a teacher. Every morning, they want to go to school, make friends and sit beside them. Instead, they are forced to remain at home: There is no suitable transportation for them, the school entrance is not accessible, and the support they need is not available. Their disability is only one part of who they are, but the barriers around them can determine how much of their potential they are able to realise. 

Ratification creates an important opportunity to address these barriers and ensure that children with disabilities can grow, learn and develop to their full potential. This means working towards a future where:

Every child with a disability can access timely identification, quality health, rehabilitation and support services as close to home as possible.

Every child can learn in an inclusive school alongside their peers, with the support they need to participate and succeed.

Every child can grow up in a safe and loving family environment, with parents and caregivers receiving the support they need.

Every child is heard, respected and able to participate in decisions that affect their lives, in accordance with their age and evolving capacities.

Every child is protected from stigma, discrimination, violence, neglect and exclusion.

At the heart of the Convention is a principle that must guide its implementation: “Nothing about us without us.” The importance of this commitment is particularly clear in Tajikistan, where more than 40 per cent of the population is under the age of 18.

Persons with disabilities, including children and young people, must have meaningful opportunities to participate in shaping the laws, policies, services and budgets that affect their lives. Inclusion is not only an outcome; it is also a process.

Access to health care, education, social protection and community life is both a human rights obligation and an investment in the country's future and these right should be inclusive of the whole of the society.

Putting the Convention into practice will require strong legal, policy and institutional frameworks. In support of this effort, UNICEF is working with the Government on the Education Code to strengthen the legal and policy framework for disability inclusion in mainstream education. Turning these commitments into reality will require sustained leadership, adequate resources and strong partnerships.

UNICEF remains committed to working alongside the Government, organisations of persons with disabilities, parents, civil society organisations, development partners and others to help ensure that the promise of the Convention translates into meaningful change for every child.