Summary

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Heba Hagrass, visited Kyrgyzstan from 23 September to 3 October 2024. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur assesses progress in implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the five years since its ratification by Kyrgyzstan in 2019, highlighting positive steps taken through legislation, policy and other measures to improve the situation of persons with disabilities, including the adoption of the “Accessible Country” programme (2023), provisions on inclusive education in the new Law on Education (2023) and increases in cash disability benefits. The Special Rapporteur suggests that a more ambitious agenda should be set, starting with the repeal of legal provisions and practices, including legal incapacitation, institutionalization and segregation in education that openly contradict the Convention, and the introduction of a new law on the rights of persons with disabilities. She also highlights the requirement for meaningful and effective consultation of persons with disabilities in public policymaking and decision-making, while expressing concern over the effects of the recently adopted Law on Foreign Representatives on the freedom and capacity of organizations of persons with disabilities to carry out advocacy and monitoring activities.