Tajikistan will develop a national action plan for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The document will set out specific measures and indicators aimed at ensuring equal opportunities, protecting rights and improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
This was announced by Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan Habibulo Khairullozoda at a round table entitled “Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities — Tajikistan’s Next Initiative in Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals”, held in Dushanbe on October 13.
The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Mavsouma Muini, representatives of both chambers of parliament, ministries and agencies, civil society organizations, and UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan, Ms. Parvati Ramaswamy.
As the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population reports, Tajikistan officially completed the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on October 1, 2026.
Ratification of the document entails further work to ensure equal access for persons with disabilities to quality education, healthcare services, decent employment and the necessary infrastructure.
What changes are planned?
According to Khairullozoda, one of the priority areas will be improving the medical and social assessment system. This involves modernizing approaches to evaluating a person’s functional capabilities on the basis of international standards, including the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
There are also plans to expand rehabilitation services and develop a network of rehabilitation centers at the local level, so that persons with disabilities can receive the assistance they need closer to where they live. The need to improve the quality of primary healthcare and enhance the accessibility of medical services for persons with disabilities, including in the regions of the country, was also noted.
The Ministry of Health noted that even before the ratification of the Convention, work had been carried out together with other government bodies, civil society organizations and international partners to improve the social protection and rehabilitation system. These measures are planned to be continued and expanded.
Persons with disabilities to be involved in monitoring
Habibulo Khairullozoda stressed that the successful implementation of the Convention will require cooperation between government agencies and close collaboration with civil society. According to him, the focus must now be on developing and approving a national action plan with specific performance indicators.
In addition, measures are envisaged to raise legal awareness among the population and to combat stigmatization and negative stereotypes towards persons with disabilities.
Particular attention will be paid to regular monitoring and evaluation of the results of the Convention’s implementation. At the same time, as the Deputy Minister emphasized, persons with disabilities themselves must be directly involved in assessing how effectively the envisaged measures are being carried out.
It may be recalled that earlier the lower chamber of Tajikistan’s parliament ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Tajikistan signed the document back in 2018.
The chairman of the National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Tajikistan, Asadullo Zikrikhudoyev, described the ratification as the result of 20 years of work by human rights advocates.
The Convention provides for the protection of persons with disabilities from discrimination, ensuring equal access to education, employment and infrastructure, as well as their participation in public life. The document obliges the state to involve organizations of persons with disabilities in the development and implementation of relevant measures.