Indigenous and Minority Persons with Disabilities Still Excluded from Public Life, Finds MRG Submission to UN CRPD

A recent joint submission by Minority Rights Group (MRG) and allied organizations ahead of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) General Comment on Article 29 highlights persistent barriers faced by individuals with disabilities from Indigenous and minority communities in accessing political and public life. Despite progress driven by the CRPD and growing disability rights advocacy, these groups remain among the most marginalized, unable to meaningfully participate in elections, governance, local decision-making, and responses to emergencies due to intersecting layers of discrimination.

Drawing on evidence from countries including Nepal, Kenya, Rwanda, Brazil, and Thailand, the submission identifies several critical impediments: poor civic and political education, limited access to polling and communication in native languages, financial constraints, entrenched exclusion from educational and organizational resources, and cultural invisibility—particularly of Indigenous women with disabilities. For instance, data from Kenya show that in the 2022 elections, only 0.65 % of registered voters had disabilities—highlighting systemic registration and outreach failures.

To address these challenges, MRG urges the Committee to advocate for an intersectional approach that integrates disability rights with Indigenous and minority rights frameworks. Key recommendations include: implementing tailored civic education programs, ensuring accessible polling stations and communications in local languages, supporting capacity building and leadership development (especially for women with disabilities), providing financial and logistical support for candidates, and guaranteeing representation in emergency and climate-related decision-making. These actions aim to dismantle structural barriers and promote equitable participation in public and political spheres for all.

For more information and to read the full submission, visit the website of Minority Rights Group: https://minorityrights.org/crpd-feb25/