From ratification to realization: A child-specific assessment of UNCRPD implementation in Jamaica

Raised by the shadows of slavery and colonialism, children with disabilities in Jamaica continue to face the inherited exclusion and inequality embedded in its national systems. This paper investigates the extent to which the rights outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) have been realized for children with disabilities over the past two decades. Focusing on education, healthcare, protection from violence, accessibility, and data collection, the study employs a framework-guided qualitative document analysis of academic and grey sources. The results reveal critical legal advancements alongside persistent challenges, including stigma, infrastructural gaps, urban-rural disparities, and poverty. Despite early political commitment, progress remains hindered by limited resources and fragmented implementation.