Nepal can be among the 20 countries on the monitoring team overseeing the implementation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if the parliament ratifies the soon-to-be-tabled convention, now under the review of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. Though a total of 84 countries are signatories to the convention, only 44 countries have accepted its provisions with qualifications and only Jamaica has fully ratified it till date. It is noteworthy that the convention can come into effect only after 20 countries ratify it. Hence, with prompt ratification, Nepal has a chance to take the leadership of this noble commitment that ensures and protects the rights of people with disabilities.

The convention that takes a rights-based perspective at dealing with the disabled rather than the charitable approach in practice might prove to be a big step forward for social and political empowerment of differently-abled people as it requires the signatory countries to modify or synchronise their legislation on disability in line with its principles. For that reason, Nepal should move apace with other South Asian countries like India and Sri Lanka that are in process of ratifying it. Having already proven its credentials as an instigator of political reforms, Nepal can demonstrate that it is in the vanguard of social revolution as well.