Liechtenstein: Quiet Progress on Disability Rights in a Tiny Alpine State

Author

ruvim senina
July 24, 2025

After exploring Monaco’s late but ambitious push toward disability inclusion last week, it’s interesting to turn our attention to another small, wealthy European country: Liechtenstein. Though often overlooked, this Alpine principality offers a different — and perhaps more quietly consistent — approach to advancing disability rights.

Liechtenstein, with its population of just under 39,000, ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) only recently, in 2023. The Convention officially came into force for Liechtenstein in January 2024. On the surface, this might seem like an even later start than Monaco, which ratified the UNCRPD in 2017. However, the real story lies in how Liechtenstein has integrated disability inclusion over time, even before formal international commitments.

As early as 2006, Liechtenstein passed its Disability Equality Act, which laid the foundation for preventing discrimination against people with disabilities. This framework includes areas such as education, housing, public services, and accessibility. Additionally, Liechtenstein established the Monitoring Office for Equality for Persons with Disabilities (MOBE), an independent body tasked with overseeing the implementation of these rights and addressing systemic barriers.

Unlike Monaco’s more sudden, highly publicized Handipact strategy launched in 2023, Liechtenstein has taken a gradual approach, building legal protections and accessibility standards quietly and consistently. For example, in 2022, the country mandated that all public sector websites and apps meet strict digital accessibility standards, aligning with broader European Union regulations. This focus on digital inclusion shows a forward-looking attitude, recognizing that accessibility is not just physical but also virtual.

Yet, Liechtenstein’s path is not without challenges. While there are legal prohibitions against discrimination, the country does not yet have a specific legal requirement for employers to provide reasonable workplace accommodations. Instead, it uses wage subsidies and incentives to encourage businesses to hire people with disabilities, leaving more gaps in practice than in principle.

One factor that shapes Liechtenstein’s approach is its unique population dynamics. Many workers in Liechtenstein commute daily from neighboring countries like Switzerland and Austria. As a result, the resident disabled community is small, and cross-border support systems often supplement domestic policies. This makes the need for broad, sweeping disability policy less visible, though certainly not less important.

Comparing this to Monaco, we see two microstates each grappling with disability inclusion in different ways. Monaco adopted a bold, catch-up style strategy, unveiling major hospital reforms and cultural inclusion programs all at once. Liechtenstein, meanwhile, has favored quiet, steady legislative progress. Both illustrate that wealth does not automatically lead to rapid inclusion, but also that even small states can chart their own unique course toward accessibility.

💭 My Thoughts

I believe that taking small and steady steps toward greater inclusion is ultimately more meaningful and effective than launching one large, sweeping initiative all at once. When progress is gradual, each policy can be carefully evaluated and tailored to the actual needs of the community, allowing for thoughtful adjustments along the way. In contrast, a single large push often introduces many new measures at once, which may seem impressive publicly but risks overlooking whether those policies genuinely serve the people they are intended to help. By moving incrementally, governments can build trust, foster continuous public engagement, and create a culture of inclusion that grows sustainably over time rather than relying on a one-time show of commitment.

I also believe that Liechtenstein needs to place greater emphasis on disability inclusion within its workforce, an area that still appears underdeveloped. The country’s heavy reliance on a commuter workforce from neighboring nations may have reduced the perceived urgency to establish strong workplace accommodations and protections. However, enhancing these measures would not only benefit cross-border workers who may have disabilities but also directly support Liechtenstein’s own citizens who wish to participate fully in the workforce. Strengthening workplace inclusion would demonstrate a holistic commitment to accessibility and equality, reinforcing the idea that every worker, whether local or foreign, deserves an environment where they can thrive.

Finally, I think larger countries can learn an important lesson from microstates like Liechtenstein and Monaco: it is never too late to start implementing meaningful inclusion policies for people with disabilities. Despite their different approaches, both countries demonstrated a shared understanding that progress, even if delayed, is still valuable. Both Monaco and Liechtenstein signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities years ago but only recently began fully committing to these obligations through concrete national strategies. This shows that taking the first step — no matter when — is more important than waiting for the “perfect” moment. By embracing action at any stage, countries can begin to build more inclusive societies and correct gaps in accessibility and equality.

❓ A question to consider

Which microstate do you believe has implemented its national disability strategy more effectively so far — Monaco with its highly publicized “catch-up” approach, or Liechtenstein with its quiet, gradual legislative progress?

📚 Sources