Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures on Persons with Disabilities

Introduction

Persons with disabilities represent one of the largest and most diverse groups protected under international human rights law. According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people worldwide—approximately 15 per cent of the global population—live with some form of disability. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) affirms that persons with disabilities are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, without discrimination of any kind (CRPD, Articles 1 and 5).

The CRPD further establishes States’ obligations to ensure access to healthcare (Article 25), habilitation and rehabilitation services (Article 26), accessibility (Article 9), education (Article 24), work and employment (Article 27), and an adequate standard of living and social protection (Article 28). These rights are interdependent and essential for enabling persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in society.

However, the realization of these rights is increasingly undermined by unilateral sanctions. The Human Rights Council and various UN Special Procedures have repeatedly expressed concern that unilateral coercive measures are incompatible with international law and have severe negative humanitarian and human rights consequences. While such sanctions are often justified as targeted measures, their extraterritorial and systemic effects disproportionately harm vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.

Negative Impacts of Unilateral Sanctions on Persons with Disabilities

1. Violation of the Right to Health and Rehabilitation

Article 25 of the CRPD obliges States to provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality, and standard of healthcare as provided to others, including access to necessary medicines and services. Unilateral sanctions frequently restrict the importation of medicines, medical equipment, assistive devices, and spare parts, as well as access to international medical cooperation.

The Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures has consistently reported that sanctions impede access to essential medicines and medical technologies, even where humanitarian exemptions formally exist, due to overcompliance by banks and suppliers (A/HRC/45/7, paras. 52–58). These barriers directly undermine the right to health of persons with disabilities and contradict States’ obligations under the CRPD.

2. Denial of Accessibility and Assistive Technologies

Accessibility is a core principle of the CRPD (Article 9). Persons with disabilities depend on assistive technologies and accessible infrastructure to exercise their rights on an equal basis with others. Sanctions that restrict access to technology transfer, software, technical expertise, and international supply chains severely limit the availability and maintenance of assistive devices.

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities has emphasized that denial of assistive technologies constitutes a form of indirect discrimination and reinforces exclusion (A/HRC/31/62). Sanctions-related restrictions exacerbate these barriers, particularly in low-resource and crisis-affected contexts.

3. Economic Marginalization and Erosion of Social Protection

Article 28 of the CRPD recognizes the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living and social protection. Unilateral sanctions often lead to economic contraction, inflation, and reduced public revenues, resulting in weakened social protection systems and reduced disability-related benefits.

Human Rights Council resolutions on unilateral coercive measures have repeatedly acknowledged that such measures disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable segments of society (HRC resolutions 27/21, 34/13, and 46/5). For persons with disabilities, this economic marginalization deepens poverty, increases dependency, and undermines independent living.

4. Undermining Inclusive Education and Employment

The CRPD guarantees inclusive education (Article 24) and the right to work and employment (Article 27). Sanctions that restrict access to educational materials, digital technologies, and international cooperation hinder the implementation of inclusive education systems. Budgetary constraints caused by sanctions may lead States to deprioritize reasonable accommodation, specialized support services, and vocational training for persons with disabilities.

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities has warned that austerity measures and resource constraints have a disproportionate and long-term impact on persons with disabilities, particularly in education and employment (A/73/161).

5. Psychosocial Harm and Social Exclusion

Unilateral sanctions contribute to widespread insecurity, uncertainty, and social stress. Persons with disabilities, particularly those with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, are especially vulnerable to the mental health consequences of service disruption, poverty, and social isolation.

The Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures has noted that sanctions can exacerbate psychosocial distress and undermine community support systems (A/76/70). These impacts directly contradict the CRPD’s emphasis on dignity, autonomy, and full participation in society.

Recommendations

In light of the above, the following recommendations are submitted to Member States of the Human Rights Council and to the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities:

1. Ensure Full Compliance with the CRPD
   States must ensure that sanctions policies do not result in violations of CRPD obligations, particularly regarding health, accessibility, social protection, and non-discrimination.
2. Adopt Effective and Enforceable Humanitarian Exemptions
   Irrespective of our position that all unilateral sanctions are, as such, unlawful, sanctions regimes must include clear, automatic, and operational exemptions for medicines, assistive technologies, rehabilitation services, and inclusive education resources, accompanied by binding safeguards against overcompliance.
3. Strengthen International Accountability Mechanisms
   The Human Rights Council and its Special Procedures should continue to monitor, document, and report on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on persons with disabilities and reaffirm the incompatibility of such measures with international human rights law.

Conclusion

Unilateral sanctions, as currently applied, undermine the rights of persons with disabilities and are inconsistent with States’ obligations under the CRPD and broader international human rights law. A human rights–based approach requires that no political or economic measure be implemented at the expense of dignity, equality, and non-discrimination. Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities must remain a central consideration in all international policy decisions.