On February 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic approved the state program "Accessible Country" for 2023-2030, which is developed for the realization of rights and guarantees of people with disabilities (PWDs), as well as in pursuance of the norms and principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) ratified by the country in 2019. The program is based on the country's long-term strategic development goals with a people-centered focus on the fundamental commitment of the Sustainable Development Goals to "leave no one behind".

In particular, the Accessible Country aims at optimizing medical and social expertise in dealing with disability issues; developing of rehabilitation system, habilitation and early intervention; developing of labor market for PWDs; creating of conditions for access to infrastructure, taking into account the implementation of the principles of "universal design" and "reasonable accommodation"; improving the system for providing prosthetic and orthopedic services; developing of the system of inclusive education and others.

According to Kudaibergen Bazarbayev, the Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration of the KR, the social sector has become a priority for the development of the country, - “In recent years, social benefits have been increased three times, disability benefits have doubled, restrictions have been lifted for recipients of the “Personal Assistant”, in social institutions, food rations have been doubled. We are confident that the approval of the State Program "Accessible Country" and its implementation will help us create equal conditions for access to work, justice, healthcare, and education for all categories of citizens. Taking this opportunity, I want to express my deep gratitude to the UNDP and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Project on Widening Access to Justice for the support provided in the development of this important program, for the huge contribution to the realization of rights and guarantees of people with disabilities”.

“We highly appreciate every effort of the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic to “Leave Noone Behind”, which is the central idea of the global Sustainable Development Goals and important for the development of society and the country as a whole. Adopting the “Accessible Country” program is a milestone in the recognition of people of different abilities and we urge the government to ensure that this program is implemented to deliver tangible improvements in the quality of life for people. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affirms the equity of all people and having adopting it, Kyrgyzstan showed intent to create an inclusive society with equal conditions for all. UNDP is ready to support the country in realizing a fair and just society for all.” - Louise Chamberlain, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic, noted in connection with the adoption of the “Accessible Country” program.

Currently, the UNDP project provides technical support in the development of a new version of the КК Law "On the Rights and Guarantees of Persons with Disabilities", as well as in bringing the national legislation in line with the norms of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

UNDP in Kyrgyzstan actively contributed to the drafting of the National Program "Accessible Country" in 2020. Specialists from the Ministries of Labor and Social Development, Finance, Health, Justice, Education, Transport and Roads, representatives of the State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Housing and Communal Agency, civil society organizations and independent experts worked on the development of the country document.