This article was published on October 4 2006 in the online publication Pambazuka News, under the headline "Protecting the rights of the disabled". Pambazuka news is "a weekly forum for social justice in Africa" (www.pambazuka.org). Around 60 million persons with disabilities live in Africa . These individuals are barely visible in most African societies, and rarely appear to have voices or opinions about general issues that are brought to our attention by the media. The
This article was published under the title "HIV strategies ignore the disabled" in the Cape Times, a South African daily newspaper, on March 29, 2007 (www.capetimes.co.za) and on the IOL website, www.iolhivaids.co.za. Everywhere you go in South Africa there are posters on HIV and AIDS. The people behind these posters go to great pains to include people who are white and black, people who are urban and rural, young and old - to catch the
Gouwah Samuels fills us in on what has happened since the launch of the Africa Campaign on Disability and HIV & AIDS. 70 campaign partners came together in South Africa in January to confirm their commitment to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on persons with disabilities in Africa – and to launch the Africa Campaign on Disability and HIV & AIDS. So what has happened since then? In Uganda the Disability Stakeholder's HIV/AIDS Committee, a Coalition
Social protection policies, in particular social cash transfer programmes, are currently being developed across Africa with support and interest from governments, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. But, once again, the disability community is not actively participating. By Thomas Ong’olo. Social protection is becoming a new buzzword in development assistance, and there is an increasing awareness that social cash transfer mechanisms are underused tools in efforts to address vulnerability, risk, inequality and chronic poverty affecting persons
With experience, the Ugandan Disability organisations can look back and see what they did right when lobbying for inclusion in the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, and what they should do differently next time. By Ratula Beukman. During March 2005 ministers of developed and developing countries gathered in Paris to reform customs in which aid is delivered and managed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. One of the commitments in terms of the ‘Paris Declaration
The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities supports the establishment of an African Federation of the Deafblind. Lex Grandia is the President of the World Federation of the Deafblind. We asked him to explain why an African federation is needed. He says that nowhere else in the world is it as important for persons who are deafblind to form a strong continental organisation as in Africa. Read his article to find
A young woman is passionately championing the human rights of youth with disabilities in Kenya through the National Youth Parliament. By Ratula Beukman. Rukia Ahmed Sheikh is the Minister of Youth with Special Needs in the National Youth Parliament in Kenya. It is the first time that disability occupies a ministry in the National Youth Parliament and she believes this is a positive step for disability leadership in the future. The main objective of having a
The Network of African Women with Disabilities is looking for new members. If you are committed to the human rights of women with disabilities, and if you think that you can advocate for their issues at decision-making levels – we want you to join us. By Gouwah Samuels. July 2005 was an exciting time for women with disabilities in Africa. It was during this time that 44 women with disabilities from 17 countries in Africa
Burkina Faso, Mali and Cap Verde are 3 countries in West Africa selected for the establishment of new Decade Steering Committees (DSC). The Secretariat of the African Decade of persons with Disabilities sent a team there from March 19 to April 6, 2007. The mission was to spread information about the Secretariat and its programmes, to learn more about disability in these countries and to facilitate the establishment of DSCs. Aida Sarr has this
National disability movements can take the initiative to establish national Decade Steering Committees. You may request guidelines on how to get started from us. First, read this to find out what a steering committee does. The mission of a Decade Steering Committee (DSC) is to advocate for the enhancement of the quality of life, full participation and empowerment of all categories of disability in all spheres of life. This will be done through the implementation