Perceptions of Inclusive Legal Frameworks Among Disability Advocates
Keywords:
disability rights, inclusive legal frameworks, legal advocacy, access to justice, qualitative research, Iran, CRPD, disability policyAbstract
This study aimed to explore the perceptions of disability advocates in Tehran regarding the inclusivity and effectiveness of Iran’s legal frameworks in addressing the rights and needs of persons with disabilities. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured in-depth interviews to collect data from 25 disability advocates residing in Tehran. Participants were purposively sampled based on their professional and activist experience in legal advocacy, disability policy, and rights-based work. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Thematic analysis proceeded through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding to identify recurring patterns and extract conceptual categories representing advocates’ perceptions, critiques, and reform strategies. Three main themes emerged: (1) structural barriers in legal frameworks, including outdated definitions, legal fragmentation, and weak enforcement mechanisms; (2) lived experiences of exclusion, discrimination, and inaccessibility in legal processes; and (3) strategies for legal reform, emphasizing cross-sector collaboration, participatory lawmaking, legal empowerment, and digital innovations. Participants reported widespread dissatisfaction with the gap between legal commitments and implementation, lack of procedural accommodations, and limited involvement of persons with disabilities in legal reform. Despite these challenges, they also identified pathways for advancing inclusive legal practices through both institutional and grassroots channels. The findings underscore a disconnect between the formal legal recognition of disability rights in Iran and their practical realization. Disability advocates perceive existing frameworks as symbolically inclusive but functionally exclusionary. Reform efforts must prioritize participatory processes, enforceability, and accessibility to transform the legal system into a genuine instrument of social inclusion.
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