Access to Justice for All Strengthened

DIWA and partners introduce new guidelines and practical toolkits to improve access to justice across Zambia, aiming to remove barriers for women with disabilities in rural and urban areas

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 — (7/4/2026) - The Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA), in collaboration with the Parliamentary Disability Caucus and other partners, has launched new Access to Justice Guidelines and practical toolkits aimed at strengthening legal access for women and girls with disabilities across Zambia, focusing on removing systemic barriers that limit participation in the justice system, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Speaking during the dissemination event, DIWA Executive Director Ruth Mkutumula said the guidelines and toolkits are designed to ensure justice is accessible to all, regardless of location or circumstance.

Mkutumula explained that the guidelines and toolkit were developed in consultation with women and girls with disabilities to ensure they are practical, relevant, and fully owned by the community.

“These tools provide guidance for service providers and women themselves on how to navigate the justice system. They are designed to be actively used, not left on shelves,” Mkutumula said.

She added that the guidelines align with existing national and regional policies but also highlight areas where the government must modernize laws.

“We expect the government to review the Zambia Disability Act No. 6 of 2012 to ensure it reflects contemporary standards, gender perspectives, and international protocols, enabling women and girls with disabilities to access justice fully,” she said.

The launch marks a significant step in Zambia’s ongoing efforts to ensure that women and girls with disabilities can exercise their legal rights and participate equally in all aspects of society.

“These guidelines are not just documents, but a reflection of our collective commitment to ensuring that women and girls with disabilities can access justice without barriers,” she said.

The tools were developed under the Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa (SPADRA) project, in collaboration with Inclusion Africa and the African Disability Forum.

Mkutumula explained that the development process included consultations with women and girls with disabilities, organisations of persons with disabilities, community leaders, service providers, and government institutions.

"The process also involved reviewing gaps in the justice system, focusing on accessibility, responsiveness, and inclusion."

Findings from the consultations revealed that access to justice remains a major challenge, with barriers ranging from inaccessible infrastructure and communication difficulties to stigma, low awareness, and limited support systems.

A 2023 baseline survey conducted by DIWA also identified access to justice as a priority concern, alongside issues in health, education, and social protection.

The guidelines and toolkits are practical, user-friendly resources designed to support police officers, legal practitioners, social welfare officers, and community structures in handling cases involving women with disabilities respectfully and inclusively.

She also aim to strengthen advocacy and community engagement by civil society organisations and organisations of persons with disabilities, while providing women and girls with disabilities with information on their rights and available justice pathways.

Mkutumula urged government ministries and institutions to integrate the guidelines into training, programmes, and service delivery systems.

Civil society and community actors were called upon to use the tools at the grassroots level to identify, report, and support cases involving women with disabilities.

“The real impact of these guidelines will depend on implementation, ownership, and accountability,” she said.

She emphasized the need for coordinated responses among stakeholders to ensure interventions are comprehensive rather than fragmented.

Joseph Munsanje, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Disability Caucus, highlighted the multiple challenges faced by women with disabilities.

“Access to land, economic opportunities, and legal protection is often limited for women with disabilities. In rural areas, for instance, land allocation practices favor traditional gift systems that exclude women with disabilities,” he said.

Munsanje also noted that women with intellectual or mental disabilities often face additional hurdles in the justice system.

“In cases of sexual exploitation or abuse, these women are unable to represent themselves effectively. They are often silenced by societal attitudes and legal procedures, while perpetrators enjoy implicit advantages,” he said.

He cited the recent case of an albino woman whose hand was amputated due to discrimination and abuse.

The Chairperson stressed the importance of training for police and legal service providers to understand the perspectives of women with disabilities, and called for inclusive language in laws and official documents.

“Terms like ‘imbecile’ have been removed from statutes, but all our legal language must reflect respect and dignity for persons with disabilities,” he said.

Munsanje reinforced the importance of the initiative, describing the guidelines as a framework for building a more inclusive and equitable justice system.

He noted that women and girls with disabilities continue to face systemic challenges, including inaccessible courts and police stations, lack of sign language interpreters, and limited access to information in appropriate formats.

“Access to justice is not merely a legal concept—it is a fundamental human right,” Munsanje said, noting that many people, particularly in rural areas, remain excluded from the justice system.

He highlighted gender-based violence as a major concern, explaining that harmful societal attitudes often expose women and girls with disabilities to abuse and neglect.

“Some members of society wrongly believe that women with disabilities do not have the same rights, which exposes them to exploitation and limits their ability to seek justice,” he said.

Munsanje also emphasized land ownership as critical for livelihoods and dignity, noting that women with disabilities often face discrimination in acquiring land due to cultural and structural barriers.

The guidelines provide practical strategies for policymakers, service providers, and justice sector actors to adopt inclusive practices.

Munsanje called for collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners, including organisations focused on children’s rights, legal advocacy, and the Law Development Commission, to help translate the guidelines into enforceable laws.

He urged the Ministry of Gender to lead the dissemination of the guidelines through existing government and traditional structures, including district commissioners, ward development committees, and community leaders.

“Chiefs and community leaders must be part of this process to ensure these guidelines reach the people who need them most,” he said.

The Zambia Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (ZAFOD) also highlighted the importance of using respectful and inclusive language alongside improving access to justice for girls and women with disabilities.

Speaking at the launch, ZAFOD Programmes Manager Misheck Katongo Mutamba said harmful and outdated terminology continues to undermine dignity and reinforce stigma.

He cited a recent incident in which a national broadcaster used derogatory language to describe girls with intellectual disabilities, prompting ZAFOD to formally engage the institution.

“Such language is offensive, demeaning, and reinforces stigma. It directly affects how society responds to issues affecting persons with disabilities,” Mutamba said.

The initiative also includes a grant programme to improve access to justice, particularly for girls and women with disabilities who face heightened barriers within Zambia’s legal system.

Mutamba described the programme as an opportunity to strengthen equity, protect the rights of marginalized groups, and promote strong leadership and accountability.

He expressed confidence in the leadership potential of women with disabilities, pointing to ZAFOD’s institutional reforms as a positive example.

Governance changes implemented after 2020, including the election of a new board, have strengthened the organisation and contributed to significant growth.

ZAFOD also raised concern over internal exclusion within some organisations of persons with disabilities, where inclusivity is not consistently practiced.

Mutamba called on organisations, cooperatives, and community groups to lead by example by ensuring meaningful participation of both persons with and without disabilities while promoting gender balance.

“If we are calling for inclusion, we must demonstrate it in our own structures,” he said.

The initiative is expected to strengthen advocacy, improve service delivery, and expand access to justice for girls and women with disabilities across Zambia.