Ensuring Equal Access

The 33rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) reminds us of the need to ensure equal rights for individuals with disabilities. The IDPD is a global call for governments, institutions, and societies to dismantle the barriers that perpetuate exclusion among the people with disablement. In developing nations like Nepal, where systematic challenges are rife, some initiative has been taken to improve the lives of the disabled individuals. But much more needs to be done. Despite commitments under international frameworks such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there has been little progress, and gaps remain glaring. Globally, over 1.3 billion people live with some form of disability, and many face discrimination, lack of access to services, and exclusion from education, employment and public life.