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Ensuring inclusivity of persons with disability in the era of sustainable development is imperative for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the capacity of Member States to develop policies and frameworks aimed at disability inclusiveness differs between regions. Africa, in particular, has many challenges to overcome to implement policies for the inclusivity of persons with disabilities.
During the United Nations celebration for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a side event took place that brought together concerned individuals advocating for disability inclusive development in Africa.
The event launched the Toolkit on Disability for Africa, designed to assist disability policy and capacity in African Member States, was tested in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia and has been validated by other countries, such as Uganda and Malawi.
The Toolkit is particularly timely and appropriate given that 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention and the first year of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. It is comprised of 14 modules focused on various topics of socio-economic development related to disability issues in Africa.
The panel, chaired by Director of DESA/DSPD Daniela Bas, consisted of Ms. Akiko Ito and Mr. Amson Sibanda, from DSPD/UNDESA, Chief Eric Ndubueze Uform, President of Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International Inc, Mr. Adriano Monti, the First Counsellor to the Italian Mission to the UN, and Ms. Beatrice Kaggy Nabulime, the Assistant Commissioner on Disability and Elderly from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in Uganda.
Ms Bas spoke about how disability is part of the human condition and experienced worldwide, but particularly in the African region, saying that, “There are factors such as poverty and the prevalence of disease that can both lead to disability and increase the challenges faced by those living with disability.”
Mr. Amson Sibanda presented the African Agenda, a 50 year vision and action plan for the African continent. He described the region as strong, united, and an influential player at the global level, and that the agenda would be prioritising the mainstreaming of inclusive development. The panelists were joined by Oleg Serezhin, Chief of the Technical Cooperation Unit for UNDESA DSPD who launched the Toolkit.
More information about the toolkit can be found here and a video introducing the Toolkit can be viewed below.