The adoption of the African Protocol on Persons with Disabilities (ADP) by the 15 African Union Member States is a major victory for the approximately 80 million people with disabilities across the continent.
Development Diaries reports that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) announced that the ADP officially came into force in June 2024.
For it to come into force across the continent, 15 countries needed to fully ratify the ADP and deposit their instruments of ratification.
The Republic of Congo will become the 15th country to fully ratify and deposit the ADP in May 2023, joining Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, South Africa, Uganda, Malawi and Nigeria, ensuring that the ADP is binding on all African Union Member States.
The treaty is the result of years of advocacy and tireless campaigning by disability rights organisations, led by Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign and in partnership with local disability organisations, and establishes a comprehensive framework for protecting and promoting the rights of people with disabilities in Africa.
“By adopting the ADP, the government has truly recognised the rights of people with disabilities and we commend them for that,” said Grace Antwi Atsu, Senior Advocacy Leader at Sightsavers.
This is a welcome development as the Protocol is the first Pan-African human rights treaty to specifically address forms of discrimination affecting people with disabilities, including harmful practices, beliefs and superstitions.
This will hopefully bring about significant changes in laws, policies and societal attitudes to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to education, employment, healthcare and other vital services.
For people with disabilities in Africa, this development heralds a new era of recognition and empowerment.
This landmark adoption must now be followed by decisive and sustained action by African governments to translate the Convention’s provisions into tangible improvements.
This includes enacting and enforcing national laws in line with the Convention’s standards, investing in accessible infrastructure, and promoting inclusive education and employment opportunities.
Governments also need to engage in ongoing dialogue with disability rights groups to ensure that policies reflect the lived experiences of people with disabilities.
Development Diaries calls on governments across the continent to enact disability-specific laws and policies in line with the Convention.
We also call on African citizens to use this Treaty as a legal weapon to hold their governments accountable.
Photo courtesy of the United Nations