Disability has increasingly been recognized as a matter of human rights, equality, dignity, and social justice rather than merely a medical or welfare concern. The international framework on disability has developed through various declarations, conventions, and global initiatives that seek to ensure the full participation and equal rights of persons with disabilities. This framework is also important from the perspective of women and the political process because women with disabilities often experience multiple forms of discrimination based on both gender and disability. The United Nations has played a central role in developing the international framework on disability. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) established the principle that all human beings are entitled to rights and freedoms without discrimination. Although it did not specifically focus on disability, its principles of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination created an important foundation for later disability rights instruments. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights