Inclusive cities and the rights of persons with disabilities are among the main priorities of state policy in Azerbaijan, Elnara Ansari, Director of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center, said during her speech at a roundtable on the rights of persons with disabilities held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
The representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population provided information on reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in the fields of inclusive urban development, the rights of persons with disabilities, and social protection.
She emphasized that all countries share a common responsibility to ensure that cities become not only developing but also accessible, inclusive, and comfortable spaces for everyone: “Today, all countries bear a shared responsibility to ensure that our cities are not only growing and developing, but also accessible, inclusive, and comfortable for everyone.”
The director noted that protecting the rights and ensuring the social welfare of persons with disabilities is one of the main directions of Azerbaijan’s state policy: “Since joining the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, Azerbaijan has implemented important reforms in this field. Following accession to the UN Convention in 2008, Azerbaijan carried out serious reforms aimed at aligning national legislation with international standards and transitioning from a medical model to a social model.”
During her speech, she stated that the law “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” adopted in 2018, created an important legal foundation for inclusive policy.
At the same time, innovative reforms such as the digital disability assessment system and the electronic assignment of social benefits were highlighted.
“We are among the first countries in the region to implement a fully electronic disability assessment system. Social payments are now assigned automatically without requiring citizen applications,” she emphasized.
The activities of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center operating under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection were also specially highlighted during the speech: “This center is a successful example of universal design and inclusivity. Accessibility, psychosocial support, and sign language services are provided here within a single space.”
It was noted that this model is already being expanded to the regions, enabling thousands of beneficiaries to acquire skills and gain access to economic opportunities.
Elnara Ansari stressed that Azerbaijan’s experience is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and added that inclusivity is the main manifestation of the principle of “leaving no one behind”: “Inclusive cities are not only a policy choice, but also a moral responsibility.”
