Disabled people still face discrimination in society and in government institutions, according to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), in a report released on Sunday to mark the International Day of Disabled on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

AIHRC called on the Afghan government to prioritize the National Disability Survey to help provide accurate planning and basic services to persons with disabilities.

“Children with disabilities, especially children with mental disabilities, should enjoy the same education and training as other children. This will only be realized if the proposed amendments to the Law on the Rights and Privileges of Persons with Disabilities … are approved and implemented,” AIHRC said in a statement.

Meanwhile, The Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC) has said it is undertaking a new policy that will help persons with disabilities to be enrolled in the institutions.

“This procedure provides conveniences and facilities at various levels of employment for persons with disabilities,” said IARCSC chairman Nader Nadery.

This year, the International Day for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated with the global slogan: "Transformation towards a sustainable and resilient society for all."

Based on the statistics of the human rights commission, persons with disabilities make up 2.7% of the population, but they faced challenges and problems for having access to their most fundamental rights, such as the right to education, the right to health and rehabilitation, the right to work, the right to housing, and so on.

The AIHRC's monitoring reports also shows that the provision of services for the various categories of persons with disabilities is very limited in the country.

“We do not demand something big, we only demand to let us decide our rights,” said Banafsha Yaqoubi, an AIHRC commissioner.

Nevertheless, the Attorney General of Afghanistan Farid Hamidi has said that in order to help persons with disabilities get access to their basic rights, there is a need to institutionalize a culture of respect for them in the society.

 “It’s possible to issue a decree, make a law and implement it with a signature, but the main issue is to promote a culture for this,” said Farid Hamidi, the Attorney General of Afghanistan.

 Based on the statistics, currently there are over a million disabled people in Afghanistan.