Posts tagged: announcement

In observance of World Down Syndrome Day, we are pleased to invite you to a special webinar focused on empowering individuals with Down syndrome by strengthening support systems across Africa.

The Africa Down Syndrome Network in collaboration with The Africa Disability Forum will be hosting a webinar in commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day on the 27 March. Many countries do not have the support systems required to support the needs of persons with disabilities. Self-advocates and experts will share their perspective on how support systems can be improved and how government leaders can make a change.

Join us as we bring together experts, advocates, and individuals with lived experiences to explore key strategies for building a more inclusive and supportive society.

📅 Date: 27 March 2025
🕒 Time: 12:30 – 13:30 EAT
📍 Platform: Zoom
🔗 Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EZlYelVdQ7eDlXqsJS5xYw

Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning will be available. Additionally, French and Portuguese interpretation will be provided.

Save the date!!!!!!

African Disability Forum (ADF) recognizes the paramount significance and importance of the African Union’s (AU) adoption of the Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG) in February 2025 and congratulates all involved parties.

Once ratified by African states, CEVAWG will play a crucial role in protecting the human rights of women and girls, including women and girls with disabilities, across the continent.

In the face of multiple forms of violence, abuse, harassment, injustice and inequality, the convention will serve as an essential legal instrument to reinforce national and civil society efforts while also scaling up positive impact of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol.

Similarly, the convention will play a crucial role in shaping the ongoing struggles of women and girls with disabilities in Africa as they fight to free themselves from dehumanizing inequality, discrimination, barriers, and injustices. These challenges, compounded by misguided perceptions, harmful narratives, taboos, practices, economic stress, natural disaster, and conflict, expose women and —particularly those with disabilities—to various forms of life-threatening violence across the continent.

To advance national ratifications and enforcement at the level of African National States, it will be essential to develop a strong lobbying and advocacy strategy while fostering dialogue and engagement at various levels. In this regard, ADF reaffirms its commitment to collaborate with the African Union’s Women, Gender and Youth Department, as well as all other relevant stakeholders.

#IDPD2024: Empowering Disability Leadership for Global Inclusion and Sustainability

The African Disability Forum extends its solidarity to all persons with disabilities globally as we commemorate the 2024 UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). Under the theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” we emphasize the critical importance of strengthening the leadership and agency of persons with disabilities in shaping their own lives and the world around them. This theme highlights the need to ensure that persons with disabilities are not only included but also empowered to lead, advocate, and drive positive change within their communities and beyond.

The Africa Regional Summit 2024

During the Africa Regional Summit in Nairobi on September 5th, 2024, representatives from 38 African countries united to address key issues affecting the lives of persons with disabilities, focusing on inclusive education, accessible health services, economic empowerment, and political participation. This reflects our commitment to prioritizing the rights and needs of persons with disabilities for a more inclusive society.

Commitment to Disability Rights and Equality

We are encouraged by the continued ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the African Disability Protocol (ADP). However, much remains to be done. We call on governments, development partners, and the international community to reinforce their commitments to the principles of non-discrimination, equality, and inclusion as outlined in the Nairobi Declaration and the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025.

Disability Inclusion in the Climate Change Agenda

We also acknowledge the global climate crisis and the growing advocacy for disability inclusion within the climate change agenda, particularly for youth with disabilities. Harnessing their potential through inclusive education is crucial for achieving sustainable development and empowering them to lead and advocate for the issues that matter most.

Key Global Events

The observance of the #2024IDPD coincides with key global events, such as the Summit of the Future, COP29 and the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development.These key global summits will complement each other in charting a roadmap for disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development. The leadership of persons with disabilities will be crucial in ensuring that these agendas are inclusive, rights-based, and grounded in the lived experiences of persons with disabilities.

Call on Governments

We call on governments to reaffirm their commitment to disability-inclusive policies and frameworks, prioritizing the needs and voices of persons with disabilities at all levels of decision-making. We encourage the creation of spaces where persons with disabilities are not just consulted but are empowered to lead in the development of policies, programs, and solutions that affect them. These efforts will create pathways for a more inclusive and sustainable future for all, in line with the vision outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Role of OPDs

We also recognize the vital role that organizations of persons with disabilities play in driving these changes. They are not only advocates but also leaders, using their lived experiences to inform solutions that can benefit entire communities. It is crucial that we continue to support and invest in these organizations to ensure that they can fulfill their mandate and continue to be at the forefront of change.

A Call for Action Towards the Global Disability Summit 2025

The 2024 International Day of Persons with Disability (IDPD) should be a time to renew our shared commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are central to global development, with active participation in decision-making processes. We reiterate our call for the creation of inclusive and accessible systems, policies, and practices that uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of ability.

As we move towards the Global Disability Summit 2025, let us remember that the leadership of persons with disabilities is not just a right but a necessity. Together, we can amplify the leadership of persons with disabilities, ensuring that they are active agents of change and that their contributions are recognized and valued.

Let us pledge to break down barriers and accelerate progress towards a truly inclusive and sustainable future for all. As we approach the Global Disability Summit 2025, we urge governments, the private sector, and the civil society to commit to concrete, actionable measures that will ensure no one is left behind.

Together, we can create a world where persons with disabilities can live in dignity and equality, participate fully, and contribute to society without barriers.

#AmplifyingLeadership
#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
#DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights
#GDS2025
#InclusiveFutureForAll

#IDPWD2024

The African Disability Conference, which began on September 2, 2024, in Nairobi, marked a historic milestone as Africa’s first OPD-led event. This was followed by the African Regional Pre-Summit on September 5. Hosted by the African Disability Forum (ADF) in collaboration with the International Disability Alliance (IDA), Sightsavers International, and other partners, the conference brought together representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities from over 38 countries across the continent, showcasing the rich diversity and vitality of Africa’s disability movement.

These gatherings, as the first regional events leading up to the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025 in Berlin, were vital for reflecting on progress made, advocating for change, setting priorities, and encouraging increased investment in disability inclusion.

The conference, themed “Persons with Disabilities in a Post-Pandemic World: Redefining the Inclusive Development & Humanitarian Agenda in Africa,” addressed a wide array of pressing issues. The conference unpacked different thematic areas including regional human rights instruments with a focus on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the African Disability Protocol), poverty and inequality, inclusive social protection, access to education and economic opportunities, inclusive humanitarian assistance, climate action, gender inclusion, inclusive health and community inclusion.

Key highlights of the conference included:

• Partnership and Collaboration: Emphasizing that building an inclusive and fair future requires joint efforts and that promoting disability-inclusive development is crucial for safeguarding the human rights of persons with disabilities at all levels
• Inclusive Policy and Legal Frameworks: The need to enhance inclusive policy issuance, repeal discriminatory laws, and promote the ratification and implementation of the African Disability Protocol
• Equitable Resource Allocation: Ensuring fair distribution of resources and investing in disability-inclusive social protection programs, inclusive education, community inclusion, and inclusive health
• Active and meaningful participation of OPDs – Ensuring that OPDs are well resourced financially and technically, and deliberately engaging them in decision processes, with particular attention to women, children, youth, indigenous peoples, older persons, persons with high support needs, persons with albinism, refugees, and internally displaced persons with disabilities
• Awareness and Sensitization: Strengthening efforts in raising awareness and community sensitization about disability issues
• Gender inclusive development programs: Acknowledging that women with disabilities face multiple and intersecting discrimination and thus critical to apply a gender lens in all development programs and promote their empowerment
• Data Collection and Management: Improving inclusive data collection, data disaggregation, and disability-inclusive national information management
• Accessibility: Prioritizing accessibility as a cross-cutting issue and enabler to the enjoyment of rights, participation in, and inclusion in the community

Outcome of the Conference

The three-day discussions were consolidated into a Declaration outlining the key priorities for the region and calling for action from government and development partners. Stay tuned for more details.

Our Commitment

African Disability Forum (ADF) shall keep its momentum to represent persons with disabilities in Africa at regional and global arenas and to voice their concerns. Guided by the Declaration and the Pre-summit Outcome Document- we commit to unifying and amplifying the voice of persons with disabilities, their families, and representative organizations at national, regional, and international levels. Fostering partnership and collaboration, building capacity at both internal and members levels as well as adhering to stewardship shall have paramount importance and remain as core engagement in realizing its stated objectives.

Media coverage

The event was extensively covered by media as outlined below:

1. https://youtu.be/B9lpXjr-rrU
2. https://kenyadailypulsenews.wordpress.com/2024/09/05/african-disability-pre-summit-paves-the-way-for-global-change/
3. https://mountkenyatimes.co.ke/first-african-regional-disability-pre-summit-sets-the-stage-for-global-advocacy/
4. https://mountkenyatimes.co.ke/first-african-regional-disability-pre-summit-sets-the-stage-for-global-advocacy/
5. https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2024/09/kenya-and-uk-commit-to-advancing-disability-inclusion-at-regional-summit-in-nairobi/
6. https://jhkea.org/2024/09/05/disability-inclusion-essential-for-achieving-vision-2030-says-secretary-mercy-wanjau/
7. https://www.mcdss.gov.zm/?p=7884
8. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/4wPB2WXa7hXMLcHW/?mibextid=CDWPTG

AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON DISABILITY

“Persons with Disabilities in a Post-pandemic World: Redefining Inclusive Development & Humanitarian Agenda in Africa”

🗓️ When: September 1-5, 2024
📍 Where: Nairobi, Kenya

In a rapidly changing world, inclusivity is paramount. This ground-breaking conference will
feature:

• Engaging panel discussions
• Side events
• Networking opportunities

Together, let’s pave the way for a more inclusive Africa.