Act on Disability Rights now
... African Disability prptocal advocates urge urgent ratification across the region
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (March 25, 2026) – The Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) network is calling on governments across the continent, including Zambia, to urgently ratify and domesticate the African Disability Protocol (ADP), warning that continued delays are prolonging discrimination and exclusion for persons with disabilities, especially women and girls.
Ruth Mkutumula, Executive Director of DIWA, told journalists at the media briefing that the African Disability Protocol is a crucial framework for protecting the rights of all persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on women and girls.
Mkutumula explained that women and girls with disabilities face serious challenges across the region.
She said these include ritual attacks on women with albinism, denial of education for girls with physical disabilities, and discrimination in healthcare.
Mkutumula added that women with psychosocial disabilities also face violence and abuse.
She stressed that these problems are not isolated, but reflect deep inequalities in communities and institutions.
Mkutumula said urgent action is needed to create stronger laws and policies that protect women and girls with disabilities.
She explained that the African Disability Protocol, adopted in 2018, addresses harmful cultural practices, discrimination, and gaps in legal protections.
Mkutumula said ratifying and domesticating the protocol will strengthen national laws, promote accountability, and allow women and girls with disabilities to fully participate in society.
She emphasized, “The time to act is now. Women and girls with disabilities cannot continue to live on the margins, denied opportunities and exposed to violence and discrimination.”
Mkutumula told the media that ratification is more than a legal process. It is an opportunity to turn commitments into action, ensuring access to justice, education, healthcare, and decision-making for women and girls with disabilities across Africa.
“This protocol addresses African realities and captures issues that were overlooked in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” Mkutumula said.
“It highlights the challenges women with disabilities face, including barriers to justice, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and meaningful participation in decision-making. Continued delays mean continued injustice.”
Mkutumula emphasized that DIWA operates regionally and works with local partners in Zambia, such as the Zambia Federation of Women with Disabilities (ZFWD).
She noted that the network has collected extensive data documenting the lived experiences of women with disabilities, revealing systemic challenges across education, healthcare, access to justice, and economic empowerment.
“The evidence is clear. Women with disabilities continue to face discrimination, stigma, and violence. Governments across Africa must act now to ratify the African Disability Protocol and ensure these commitments translate into real change,” she said.
“Ratifying the African Disability Protocol will ensure stronger legal protection, access to education and healthcare, and reduce stigmatisation,” she said.
“We cannot allow women with disabilities to continue experiencing violence, exclusion, and denial of essential services. This is not just a policy issue—it is a matter of justice.”
Mutale also called for immediate action, urging that the protocol be ratified before the end of April 2026.
“The time for study is over. The time for action is now,” she said.
She stressed that research and advocacy evidence has already been compiled and is sufficient to inform policymakers.
Saboi Imboela, President of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who represented women in politics addressed the broader political and societal challenges affecting women, noting that women in politics often face harassment, extortion, and limited reporting mechanisms.
She explained that these barriers mirror the discrimination experienced by women with disabilities.
“In politics, women are often more qualified than men but continue to face barriers, including harassment,” Imboela said.
“We are advocating for sexual harassment policies across all political parties and stronger protections for women in leadership. Women do not need to rely on men to advance—they have what it takes to lead.”
Imboela also highlighted systemic challenges specific to Zambia regarding the ratification and domestication of international protocols.
She pointed out that governments often ratify protocols but delay incorporating them into national law.
“This applies to protocols concerning women, children, and persons with disabilities. Follow-up mechanisms and active engagement with ministries are critical to ensure meaningful implementation,” she said.
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