Bishkek, 14 December 2021 - Another step closer to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was the analysis of legislative acts of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as national programs, strategies, and concepts for compliance with the CRPD and the presence of discriminatory norms.

Experts conducted an assessment along with the legislation inventory coordinated by the Ministry of Justice. The results will be shared with relevant state bodies under their competence.

Different organizations participated in legislation assessment, including the Public Foundation "Expert Solutions for the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities." According to Vladimir Gangela, Director of the Public Foundation an analysis demonstrated a lack of norms for implementation of CPRD in a majority of laws and related by-laws. "One of the main conclusions that I came to as a result of this assessment is that people with disabilities should take an active part in discussion and implementation of any activities to ensure that their needs, views, thoughts are fully reflected and taken into account. However, these requirements are missing in our legislation," Gangela continued. "It is also necessary to form an expert community around main areas of realization of the rights of people with disabilities. Having this requirement - participation of people with disabilities - will ensure expenditure of financial resources with the greatest efficiency and benefit for people with disabilities," he added.

Under auspices of the UNDP project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland supported legislation assessment, the UNDP has been actively supporting and promoting the CPRD's implementation since Kyrgyzstan has ratified it.

Erkin Kasybekov, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative emphasized: "The UNDP supports the development of a draft state program "Accessible country for persons with disabilities and other immobile population groups in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2021-2040" to promote inclusiveness in all areas of the society."

The legislation analysis was conducted in two directions.

Firstly, the experts studied existing legal acts to identify contradictions with the provisions of the Convention, as well as to find norms that discriminate against people with disabilities.

Secondly, the experts analyzed national and state programs and strategies to assess whether the interests and rights of people with disabilities comply with the CRPD.

CPRD requires the state parties to take "all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs, and practices that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities. Also, the CRPD demands from the states parties to reflect protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in all their policies and programs.

On 8 December 2021, representatives of the civil sector, Parliament, Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration widely discussed the results of the legal assessment.

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Media contacts: Nurjan Alymkanova, Communications Specialist nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org