Web Accessibility as a Human Right in Digital Commerce

Web accessibility in digital commerce is frequently approached as a matter of regulatory compliance and post-release correction. Such approaches fail to recognize that inaccessible digital systems restrict independent access to goods and services for people with disabilities. This paper reframes web accessibility as a foundational human right within digital commerce rather than a secondary technical requirement. Drawing on applied experience with enterprise-scale, multi-market e-commerce platforms, the study examines how accessibility barriers emerge across product discovery, interaction, and transaction workflows, resulting in systemic exclusion. The paper proposes an architectural methodology that embeds accessibility into design systems, development workflows, testing practices, and governance models. The findings demonstrate that accessibility-first implementation improves equitable access while also enhancing usability, performance stability, and long-term sustainability across international digital commerce platforms.