| Summary/Abstract |
Kyrgyzstan was one of the last post-Soviet countries to ratify the UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in 2019. The disability movement played a significant role in advocating for the adoption and ratification of the UN CRPD. Interviews with disability activists and a desk review of documents trace the trajectory of the disability movement in Kyrgyzstan. As post-ratification events demonstrate, a narrow interpretation of the Convention results in the misrecognition of the voices of people with disabilities, who are prevented from meaningful engagement and participation in the policymaking process. The essay cautions against equating ratification with recognition.
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