The Executive Director of the Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi - FEDOMA, Simon Munde, has challenged members of the Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Affairs to appreciate and prioritize the domestication of the African Disability Protocol - ADP as a critical tool for advancing disability rights in Malawi.
Speaking during an engagement meeting held in Lilongwe, Munde said the ADP provides stronger protections and opportunities for persons with disabilities that are not fully captured in current national laws.
"We are asking Parliament to effectively use the African Disability Protocol and treat it as a critical tool to advancing disability rights," said Minde while emphasizing on the significance of domesticating the ADP that would help Malawi align its laws with international standards and ensuring that no person with disability is left behind.
The ADP, adopted by the African Union in 2018, addresses key areas such as inclusive education, employment, accessibility, health, and protection from violence and discrimination. Malawi signed the Protocol in 2019 and ratified in 2023 but Domesticating it remains crucial task.
In his remarks, the Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Affairs, Savel Kafwafwa, acknowledged the importance of working closely with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities - OPDs in the domestication process.
"As a committee, we acknowledge the need to work with OPDs in the domestication process of the ADP. We are committed to ensuring that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard and reflected in our laws," said Kafwafwa.
The engagement provided an opportunity for Committee members and disability rights stakeholders to discuss policy gaps and how the ADP can help address them, especially for women, children and youth with disabilities.
Participants agreed that fast-tracking the domestication of the ADP will help Malawi meet its obligations under the 2030 DFGs principle of “Leaving No One Behind.”
The meeting was financially supported by Sightsavers inder the Realization of African Disability Protocol (RAD-P Project).