Defending the rights of Iranian persons with disabilities at the United Nations

Addressing the needs of persons with disabilities in a country like Iran, where 11% of the population faces various forms of disability (both severe and mild), is a critical necessity. In other words, many Iranian citizens are directly or indirectly affected by the challenges related to disability or the care of persons with disabilities.

In this context, the unjust and illegal sanctions imposed by the United States have had a detrimental and obstructive impact on providing medicine, treatment costs, and optimal living conditions for individuals and communities with disabilities. In such circumstances, Iran’s effective participation in international forums to devise innovative solutions to these challenges and to directly highlight the impact of these cruel sanctions is an opportunity that must be seized.

To this end, Dr. Seyed Javad Hosseini, head of Iran’s Welfare Organization, has traveled to the United Nations headquarters in New York to participate and deliver speeches at the 18th annual session of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The theme of the 18th session is enhancing public awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and their contribution to social development, leading to the World Social Summit. 

Dr. Hosseini, as the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran and head of the institution responsible for policymaking, planning, and implementing the government’s duties toward persons with disabilities (Iran’s Welfare Organization), will deliver speeches on two separate occasions at the UN headquarters in the presence of representatives from 185 member states of the Convention.

Dr. Hosseini’s first speech, within the framework of the general discussion, will take place at 3:00 PM on the first day of the session (Tuesday, June 10), and his second speech, within the framework of the interactive dialogue among member states, will be held at 3:00 PM on the third day (Thursday, June 12).

Legitimate demands of Iran’s disabled community from the global community

The Iranian disabled community has legitimate demands, each of which has been adversely affected by the unjust sanctions. The rights of persons with disabilities in a society encompass a range of rights and supports aimed at ensuring an equal and dignified life. These rights include:

Right to Non-Discrimination: Persons with disabilities should not be deprived or underserved in any aspect of life, including access to essential facilities (such as medicines, medical supplies, and assistive devices that facilitate living with disabilities).

Right to Accessibility: This includes access to the physical environment (buildings, transportation), information and communication (internet, media), and services (education, healthcare). The goal is to remove barriers that limit the full participation of persons with disabilities in society.

Right to Education: Persons with disabilities have the right to participate in an inclusive and high-quality education system, with access to appropriate facilities and support services tailored to their specific needs.

Right to Independent Living: Persons with disabilities have the right to live independently within society and receive necessary support to achieve this goal, including access to suitable housing, personal care services, and social support.

Equal access means providing equal opportunities for all individuals, including those with disabilities, to participate fully and effectively in society. This involves removing physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that hinder access to facilities, services, and opportunities. Equal access signifies the creation of an inclusive and equitable society where all individuals, regardless of their physical or mental condition, can live with dignity and respect.

As evident, the unjust U.S. sanctions have directly impacted all these areas. Therefore, advocating for the removal of obstacles created by the West that hinder the realization of a “less burdensome life for persons with disabilities” is one of the primary demands of Iran’s disabled community. Undoubtedly, the prominent and strategic presence of officials from Iran’s Welfare Organization at the New York session will play a significant role in achieving this goal.