Guided principally by theConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and, on
questions of unjust causation of impairment, by the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), this study examines how the situation of persons with disabilities
in Afghanistan has evolved since August 2021. Drawing on interviews conducted across all 34
provinces, it documents current living conditions and social inclusion, and asks a single
overarching question: How has the situation for persons with disabilities evolved since the
Taliban’s return to power?
The study identifies the physical, social, educational and economic barriers that limit access to
basic services and equal opportunities; documents the strategies persons with disabilities use to
cope; and, guided by the ICESCR, examines how war, poverty and health-system failure can
themselves cause or intensify impairment. It concludes with practical, evidence-based
recommendations, developed with persons with disabilities, for policymakers, UN agencies,
NGOs and service providers.