KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: Ratification of CRPD opens new opportunities to hundreds of thousands

20 Mar 2019

[International Secretariat]

Region: KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

Topic: International human rights law

“The ratification of the Convention paves the road to the effective inclusion of 180,000 people living with disabilities in the social and economic life of Kyrgyzstan,” said Anna Kirey, Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International.

“It should be a priority for the government of Kyrgyzstan to guarantee that persons with disabilities are involved in all decision-making processes, including relevant working groups and committees. The Convention’s implementation will demand combined approaches to policy and advocacy from persons with disabilities and their organizations.”

“Amnesty International was honoured to support Kyrgyzstani partners in campaigning for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Together we made tangible progress towards combating prejudices and misconceptions about persons with disability.”

“This success was made possible thanks to the work of tireless activists, one of whom, Gulzar Duishenova, features in this year’s Write for Rights campaign.”

Gulzar Duishenova told Amnesty International:

“I am grateful for all the support and solidarity from so many of Amnesty International’s activists who care about our rights despite being from a different country.”

“As the saying goes, if people with disabilities and elderly people live well, the whole of society lives well. I also want to say it loud and clear that nothing about us should be done without us.”

Background

On 14 March, President Sooronbay Jeenbekov signed the bill ratifying the CRPD previously adopted by the Zhogorku Kenesh (the country’s Parliament). Kyrgyzstan is one of three former Soviet countries that have signed but until recently hadn’t ratified the Convention. The two remaining countries are Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

14 March 2019
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL QUOTE