UN in Uzbekistan commends new Programme for Persons with Disabilities in Uzbekistan

The United Nations in Uzbekistan warmly welcomes the adoption of the President’s Resolution on the State Programme for Persons with Disabilities.

The State Programme puts Uzbekistan on track to put most vulnerable in the center of sustainable development efforts in Uzbekistan. This is fully in line with the Government’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind. The State Programme is a comprehensive whole-of-government effort to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy their economic and social rights in Uzbekistan.

In particular, there are three areas where the UN is particularly pleased to see progress.

The first is the area of data collection to ensure we are able to capture more accurately the situation of persons with disabilities in Uzbekistan for evidence-based policymaking and enhanced targeting.

The second is that the State Programme envisages preparations towards the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

And the third, the State Programme envisages reviewing of the definition of the “persons with disabilities” and shifting from a medical definition towards a social definition. This is in line with global efforts to ensure a human rights-based approach towards persons with disabilities.

We also welcome that within the State Programme, the Government of Uzbekistan is addressing the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child made in 2013.

We are also very pleased to note that in line with the President’s emphasis on public dialogue with people, the process of preparing the State Programme was inclusive and consultative. The United Nations, among many other stakeholders, was invited to contribute to the development of State Programme, and much of our inputs were incorporated in the final version. It is critical that this inclusive process continues and persons with disabilities and Disabled People’s Organizations are continuously included in the design and implementation of policies intended to support them and address their needs.

We are pleased to highlight that the implementation of the President’s resolution will contribute to fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. In cooperation with national and international development partners, the United Nations in Uzbekistan is committed to further support the Government in implementing the provisions of the State Programme.  

The adoption of the State programme on Persons with disabilities is a strong sign of Uzbekistan’s commitment to sustainable development, and inclusive sustainable development in particular, where no one is left behind.