The situation of persons with disabilities in Nepal has been improving in recent years after the adoption of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2010, but significant challenges remain. Following the promulgation of the 2015 Constitution of Nepal, a decentralized structure adopted with three tiers of government such as federal, provincial and local. The local government bodies are entitled to exercise their executive, legislative and judicial powers by providing opportunities to involve citizens including persons with disabilities. The Government, in article 42.3 of the Constitution, recognized persons with disabilities as a part of human diversity having rights to equality. While Nepal has made some progress in policy and legal frameworks to support persons with disabilities, the implementation of these initiatives often lags, and social, cultural, and infrastructural barriers continue to hinder the full and effective participation of people with disabilities in society.
Abilis Foundation started its cooperation in Nepal since its establishment, the modality of operating as program country was initiated since 2014. The program in the current strategic period (2022-2025) was highlighted during the Helsinki Seminar which was convened during 26-31 August 2024 in Helsinki. The presentation revealed the positive impact of the variety of Abilis granted projects in Nepal, aimed at enhancing the quality of life of persons with disabilities. The prioritized themes are capacity building of Organisations of persons with disabilities, economic wellbeing, inclusive development and Gender equality.
Highlights of Challenges in disability inclusion
In Nepal, traditional attitudes towards disabilities are deeply rooted in stigma and discrimination. Focusing on Sudurpaschim, Madhesh and Karnali, these are the provinces having low awareness levels, disability is traditionally interpreted as a past sin committed by oneself or one's family. Having a member with a disability in the family, mostly taken as a matter of shame, often for the whole family. Disability can damage the marriage chances of other siblings, especially sisters. Some of them live out their existence and are isolated. There is a general lack of awareness and understanding about the rights and needs of people with disabilities. These attitudes hinder efforts to integrate persons with disabilities into mainstream society and lead to social exclusion. The government has made commitments to improve the situation, but gaps in implementation and monitoring remain a concern. Abilis Foundation has supported building awareness towards rights of persons with disabilities through OPDs. As a result, Various grantee organisations are working to raise awareness, advocate for policy changes, and promote implementation of service provisions to persons with disabilities.
There is a growing movement of Organisations of persons with disability and rights activists that are advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities in Nepal. These organizations have been instrumental in pushing for more inclusive policies, services, and social change. However, much work remains to be done in terms of shifting public perception and ensuring effective implementation of laws which can be achieved by the effective advocacy campaign through capacitated OPDs.
There is 5% reservation quota for persons with disabilities in the public service. The statistics show that there are 650 persons with disabilities who have joined public service and above 2150 in the teaching profession. Public employment is popular amongst persons with physical disabilities (42%), visual disability (23%), Deaf (15%) and other disability sector (20%). The employment related research revealed that people with disabilities are underrepresented in the labour market. This is due to various barriers and challenges such as discrimination, lack of appropriate skills training and an inclusive working environment. The report of the baseline survey about the employment challenges for persons with disability in Covid situation (2021) revealed that only 12.3% of persons with disabilities are employed whereas generally it is 65% enrollment rate.
Nepal's Labour Act (2017) includes provisions to support the employment of people with disabilities, including a requirement for public and private sectors to provide reasonable accommodation. However, the enforcement of these provisions is weak. There are very few opportunities for persons with disabilities in the formal labor market, and many people with disabilities are forced into informal or low-paying jobs. This is especially true for those with severe and under-represented disability groups. There are limited vocational training programs specifically designed for persons with disabilities, which restricts their ability to acquire skills needed for various jobs. Additionally, employers' attitudes toward hiring persons with disabilities often reflect negative stereotypes, leading to discrimination in hiring processes. Besides that, workplaces and public spaces are often not accessible, making it difficult for people with disabilities to participate in the workforce.
There are several challenges in promoting inclusive education in Nepal. There is very limited Sign-language terminology and inadequate teachers who are trained in alternate communication methods. Children with disabilities often face stigma and discrimination, both from peers and sometimes teachers, which discourages families from enrolling them in school. As a result, the enrollment rate of children with disabilities in schools is 0.39% which is extremely low in comparison to 96.4% enrollment of all children (Flash report, 2023). Another challenge for inclusive education is that many schools lack the accessible infrastructure, trained teachers, and assistive technologies necessary to support students with disabilities. As per the School Sector plan, some schools cater to specific disabilities, the reach and quality of inclusive education programs remain limited, particularly in rural areas. Besides that, Students with disabilities often drop out due to accessibility issues, lack of appropriate support, and the social stigma they face.
Despite the existence of multiple constitutional, legislative and policy instruments at the institutional level, there are huge implementation gaps. Consequently, situation for those women with disabilities and coming from marginalized communities is rather awful, as they face multiple effect of deprivation. Moreover, these practices entrenched in society create substantial barriers that negatively affect access to justice, restricted in participation in social, cultural and political decision making and are exposed to higher rates of abuse and violence.
While the situation of persons with disabilities in Nepal has seen some positive changes in terms of legal frameworks and policy commitments, real progress is slow and uneven. Major obstacles still exist, including limited access to inclusive education, employment opportunities, and healthcare services. These challenges are compounded by social stigma and cultural barriers.
To achieve true inclusion, there is a need for stronger cooperation from Development partners for the enforcement of laws, increased awareness, and targeted efforts to improve accessibility and reduce discrimination.
Grant Support of Abilis Foundation to address these challenges
Abilis Foundation plays a critical role in supporting persons with disabilities in Nepal by focusing on inclusive education, employment, healthcare access, and advocacy for their rights. Their work not only addresses immediate needs but also empowers persons with disabilities to become active contributors in society. Through a combination of capacity building initiatives, community engagement, and advocacy, Abilis is helping to create a more inclusive and accessible Nepal for people with disabilities.
Abilis Foundation supports local groups of persons with disabilities in Nepal, building their capacity to advocate for the rights of their members, manage projects, and provide services. This helps strengthen the local disability movement and ensures that persons with disabilities are better represented in decision-making processes.
Abilis supported the enhanced capacity of local OPDs for promoting better inclusion of persons with disabilities in the formal labor market. This includes pushing for the enforcement of laws that ensure employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and working to change employer attitudes.
Abilis Foundation prioritizes economic wellbeing and development of disability inclusive entrepreneurship, providing vocational training programs that help people with disabilities gain skills in various trades and professions. These programs aim to increase the employability of individuals with disabilities and reduce dependency. The projects helped persons with disabilities access microfinance opportunities and provides support for entrepreneurship, empowering them to start their own small businesses. This includes providing training in business management and financial literacy.
Abilis supported grantee OPDs for conducting policy dialogues to push for access to education for children with disabilities within communities, helping to reduce stigma and encouraging families to send their children with disabilities to school.
The gradual improvement has been observed by the initiatives of the Government and the Development partners. Abilis Foundation has contributed to promoting inclusive education through policies like the Inclusive Education Policy (2017), which aims to integrate children with disabilities into mainstream schools. The Persons with Disabilities Act (2017) also emphasizes the right to education for people with disabilities, including provisions for accessibility and reasonable accommodations in schools.
As a result of Abilis grant support, children with disabilities have access to education in an inclusive environment in its project location. They assist in the development of accessible education resources. Abilis recently supported grassroots level OPD to provide training to the teachers to help them better understand the needs of students with Autism Spectrum condition and equip them with the skills to offer inclusive education. This effort created more welcoming and supportive school environments in the hilly western parts of the country.
Abilis grants in the activities that work to change societal attitudes towards disability, aiming to reduce stigma and discrimination. They do this through media campaigns, community workshops, and public events to foster a more inclusive society. The projects promote social integration by organizing events and activities that involve persons with disabilities in various cultural, sports, and community activities. These initiatives help to break down social barriers and encourage inclusivity.
Abilis has also granted humanitarian Support for persons with disabilities, addressing Nepal’s vulnerability to natural disasters like earthquakes, Abilis Foundation has been involved in providing emergency support to people with disabilities, ensuring that they are not left out of disaster relief efforts. This includes providing mobility aids, medical assistance, and helping persons with disabilities with evacuation and rehabilitation processes.
Abilis is supporting OPDs in advocating for the rights of women and girls with disabilities. ensuring that they are treated equally and have access to the services and opportunities guaranteed by law. They support efforts to promote the full implementation of the Act Related to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2017) and implementation of CRPD and achieving disability specific targets of SDG from gender lens.
Abilis also works to connect local organizations with international networks and resources, providing them with additional opportunities for advocacy, funding, and technical support to make a sustainable effect of Abilis grant support.
Birendra Raj Pokharel (PhD)
Abilis Foundation Country Coordinator Nepal
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