World Bank highlights challenges faced by people with disabilities in Uzbekistan

Opportunity environment

Lack of access to the necessary infrastructure has a negative impact on the lifestyle and well-being of people with disabilities. Recent analysis has shown that 85% of buildings and social infrastructure in Tashkent are not adapted for use by people with disabilities, although about 70,000 people live in this category.

Public transport in the capital also does not meet the criteria of convenience for people with disabilities, which has serious socio-economic consequences for the well-being of people with disabilities.

Lack of adequate infrastructure and facilities to facilitate the movement of persons with disabilities violates the rights of this category of citizens, and prevents them from full participation in social life, education, employment and participation in other activities. As a result, it negatively affects their quality of life. Thus, people with disabilities, especially those with physical impairments, fall into a state of forced social exclusion, become dependent on others, and are unable to enjoy the benefits of living in cities.

Opportunity to study

The WB study shows that children with disabilities have almost 20% lower access to pre-school education than non-children with disabilities, which could worsen the level of retention of children with disabilities in the upper grades.

As an experiment, in the 2021-2022 academic year, an inclusive education system was introduced in 42 secondary schools in the cities of Uzbekistan and districts of Tashkent city. According to the results of this pilot program, an inclusive approach to education will be introduced in other regions of the country. However, the study shows that secondary schools are not yet ready for this, as they do not have accessible infrastructure and toilets for children with disabilities, the necessary equipment for the educational process, qualified personnel.

For example, there is a need for sign language interpreters, textbooks in Braille for the blind, teachers and tutors for children with learning disabilities and hearing impairments.

Employment opportunity

Research has shown that people with disabilities are about four times less likely to find work than those without. In 2019, only 8.9% of men with disabilities aged 16-59 and only 4.4% of women with disabilities aged 16-54 were officially employed, which is only 7.1% of those with disabilities. In rural areas, the figure was even lower, at 5.8%.

The study shows that the structure of the current social protection system reduces the motivation of people with disabilities to look for work in the formal labor market. There are limits to those who are medically “incapacitated” by medical-labor expert commissions on the possibility of receiving disability benefits.

This excludes people with disabilities from the labor market. Persons with disabilities are afraid of losing their disability benefits when regular medical examinations are conducted by medical-labor expert commissions.

This is why they prefer to work more in the informal sector of the economy. However, disability-based discrimination is higher here and wages are about twice as low as in the formal sector.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

According to a monthly survey “We listen to citizens of Uzbekistan”, which assessed the socio-economic situation of about 4,000 households in all regions of the country with the support of the World Bank, individuals with disabilities during the quarantine restriction period reported deteriorating mental health.

In particular, from July to December 2020, an average of 51% of this category of citizens rated their mental health as “satisfactory” or “poor”. In August 2020, the figure peaked at 61%. During strict quarantine, individuals with disabilities faced difficulties in accessing markets, as well as specialized medical and social services.

Recommendations on social integration of persons with disabilities

The study provides recommendations for the involvement of persons with disabilities in social life.

For example, it is necessary to harmonize legislation and state programs in the field of protection of this category of citizens with the rules and principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; harmonization of the system of statistics and data collection related to persons with disabilities on the basis of universally recognized international definitions and tools; as well as strengthening interagency coordination and monitoring mechanisms for the implementation of the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the national level.

In addition, the study recommends that authorities develop the capacity of local NGOs to represent the interests of persons with disabilities; promote a change in the rules of conduct for persons with disabilities, to introduce the principle of a universal environment (infrastructure) accessible to all, including persons with disabilities; actively develop social services for the care of persons with disabilities and introduce the practice of rehabilitation of patients with disabilities in the local community on the basis of WHO recommendations, use existing public structures such as mahallas; encourage the full involvement of persons with disabilities in education and employment systems.