Equal Participation

A lack of reliable data and comparable statistics represents a critical obstacle in mainstreaming disability into disability-inclusive development programmes. Therefore, improvements in the collection, analysis and availability of disability statistics are crucial in promoting evidence-based policymaking and programming decisions, and effective monitoring processes. 

The goal of CRPD is to promote the equal participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life by removing the barriers faced by people with functional limitations. To pursue this goal, a deeper understanding of the scope of disability within a country and how disability is distributed throughout the population is needed in order to calculate the differences in the rates of disability by sex, age, ethnicity, region of residence or other characteristics. 

Countries need to benchmark the status of persons with disabilities and implement a mechanism to monitor status changes in order to understand whether policies aimed at reducing gaps in participation are working.