Overview

• 252 of 619 larger cities and districts—about 41 percent—report systematic planning activities to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• In nearly two out of three cities with plans, people with disabilities are not included in planning processes, leaving community voices unheard.
• Tight municipal budgets and insufficient staffing lead many authorities to delay or scale back accessibility investments.
• Researchers warn that piecemeal measures, such as retrofitting individual buildings, fall short without integrated, citywide strategies.
• The UN convention mandates that municipalities proactively ensure barrier-free access across public services and infrastructure.