The image shows the “Make the Right Real in Malaysia” logo of The OKU Rights Matter website and a Deaf Abilympian holding up his gold medal in his right hand and the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag) in his left hand.

Policy and Legislation: Other Countries

Policy and Legislation: Other Countries

Note: Policy and legislation documents featured here only include documents in English or are English translation of the original documents, unless stated otherwise.

A Comparison of Disability Laws of Selected Countries in Asia (India, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Indonesia) compiled by Amar-Singh HSS and San Yuen Wah, updated 12 October 2023

South-East Asia

Cambodia: Law On The Protection and The Promotion Of The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities

Indonesia: Law on Disabilities (No. 8/2016); original name in Bahasa Indonesia: Undang-Undang Tentang Penyandang Disabilitas

Philippines: RA 7277 Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities (1990)

Singapore: Enabling Masterplan

Thailand – Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act, B.E. 2550 (2007). (ilo.org)

Thailand – Disabled Persons Empowerment Act, (No. 2), B.E. 2556 [2013]. (ilo.org)

VietNam: National Law on Persons with Disabilities (2010)

Japan: Disability Publics: Making Accessibility in Modern Japan” is a book on disability in Japan over the past 150 years. It was published in 2025 after the passing of its author, Mark Ross Boookman, in December 2022. This book is a welcome global public good, with free access for all

Asia-Pacific

Australia

China: Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities (2008)

Fiji: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018 (Act No. 4 of 2018)

Hong Kong, China: Disability Discrimination Ordinance, 1995

India : Introduction to India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016

The film highlights: key provisions, challenges to implementation and penalties for violations. It covers education, employment and grievance redressal for persons with disabilities. Underscored in the film is the role of India’s Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities and advocates for inclusive education and accessibility.

Expert Mr T.D. Dhariyal on RPWD Act 2016 (youtube.com)

This film (16:01 minutes) responds to the following queries regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016:

  • What are the various Acts in India related to persons with disabilities? 
  • What are the key provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
  • What is the gist of the employment-related provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
  • What is the gist of the key education-related provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
  • What are other main provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
  • What is the grievance redressal mechanism that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act provides for?
  • What are the challenges faced while implementing (or seeking the implementation of) the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
  • What is the penalty for violating the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
  • What are some orders passed during Mr. Dhariyal’s tenure.

Background of the Indian expert-informant in the film:

Mr T. D. Dhariyal is a distinguished Indian disability rights advocate with over 30 years of experience as a civil servant in diverse Indian ministries. Mr Dhariyal holds the record as the longest-serving Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India. He also served three years as State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, National Capital Territory of Delhi. 

Following his retirement from government service, Mr Dhariyal is active in civil society organizations, including as the Executive Director of the Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment (CABE) Foundation.

Mr. Dhariyal continues to play a pivotal role in promoting disability inclusion through participating in expert groups, training and evaluation of programmes and schemes related to accessibility and the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Mr Dhariyal passionately supports operationalization of the implementation of Indian disability rights-related legislation and the harmonization of domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in India. For Mr Dhariyal’s work on this subject, see
ESCAP-2023-RP-Harmonization-National-Laws-Convention-Rights-Person-Disability-India-Case-study.pdf (unescap.org)

This film was first released via Youtube on 23 December 2023 by Indian civil society organization, Trinayani <Trinayani – trinayani>.

Other countries

United Kingdom 

United States of America: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990