Recalling the resolution reached at the inauguration of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Conference (CPwD) Africa Region that, Members should meet once a year to deliberate on issues of promotion, protection and mainstreaming of disability interests, the Parliament of Tanzania offered to host the 2nd Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Conference from 14th to 18th November 2022 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania under the theme “Parliamentarians and Persons with disabilities as Champions of Inclusion and Accessibility to Public and Private Sectors”. It was further agreed that special meetings be held in between the main annual meetings to resolve and push for implementation of resolutions made and agreed.

THE CONFERENCE:

Recognised that, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) 2006 exists to promote, protect and ensure full and equal enjoyment of human rights for all is fundamental for human dignity, self-esteem, peace and development;

Further Acknowledged that the UNCRPD (2006) urges state parties to take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities;

Took Cognisance of the fact that the Agenda 2030 includes, persons with disabilities and recognises them as active contributors to the society who must not face any discrimination;

Noted that persons with disabilities have faced systemic discrimination, exclusion from mainstream society, provision with inferior or unequal services, and denied the dignity, inherent rights and freedoms that those without disabilities enjoy;

Further Noted that the Human Rights Council – Resolution 7/9, 27 March 2008 reaffirms the need to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity, and in this regard, calls upon Governments to take active measures:-

a) To prevent and prohibit all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities;

b) To ensure, for persons with disabilities, full and effective participation and inclusion, respect for their individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one’s own choices; independence; and equality of opportunities.

Concerned that regardless of the exemplary provisions of the above convention and resolution, most African countries are still facing challenges in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities due to lack of accessible environments, lack of incorporating education systems, poverty, stigmatization and negative societal attitudes.

Affirms that the Marrakesh Treaty (2013) recognises access to information as a human right and thus, advocate for mandatory access of published works to persons who are visually impaired.

Accordingly Resolve that:

1. All Commonwealth Parliaments should review their laws to make available free, accessible and appropriate public (inclusive) education to all learners with disabilities. Parliaments should also ensure that inclusive education that addresses specific needs of learners with disabilities are fulfilled.
2. Parliaments should ensure that legislation on persons with disabilities are implemented by the government to the fullest.
3. Governments should ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls with disabilities and zero tolerance to all forms of sexual abuse.
4. Parliamentarians should ensure through legislation that all government programmes implemented in their constituencies are fully inclusive of persons with disabilities.
5. Government should take affirmative action to support persons with disabilities economically for independent living, as well as provision of access to technology.
6. Parliaments should ensure through legislation the compulsory representation of persons with disabilities in decision-making bodies at all levels.
7. All assistive devices including computers, equipment, mobility aids and adaptive technologies purchased to assists persons with disabilities should have tax exemptions and or waivers.
8. All buildings (infrastructure) that are accessed by the public should adhere to universal design standards and best practices to enhance mobility and full accessibility to persons with disabilities.
9. Access technologies should be made simple, affordable and timely for persons with disabilities.
10. Capacity building in marketable skills for self-employment and entrepreneurship to be mainstreamed amongst persons with disabilities to achieve self-sustainability, independence and dignified contribution to society.
11. Economic policies should be reviewed to meet international Agreements, Treaties and Conventions in catering for persons with disabilities.
12. Governments should create jobs and establish Public Recruitment Employment Centres for persons with disabilities (the Ghanaian Case) and be “persons with disabilities inclusion hampions”.
13. Creative Arts be used as a communication tool to tackle and transform the mindset, stigmatization and negative perceptions surrounding persons with disabilities.
14. Parliament should ensure that all budgets allocated for persons with disability concerns are significant, enough with equitable distribution. Budget allocation should be gender and persons with disability sensitive.
15. There should be compulsory inclusion of at least 10% of Persons with disabilities in all Commonwealth Parliaments through nominations where possible in line with UN statistics average of persons with disabilities globally.
16. Parliaments should hold governments accountable for the implementation of the Global Disability Summit (GDS) commitments;
17. Parliaments should ensure that all international and regional conventions are ratified and domesticated by the respective governments (eg. African Disability Protocol).
18. Parliaments to enact laws that compel parents and care givers of children with disabilities to support their education.
19. Parliament should ensure the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty (2013) to facilitate access to published works, to be in accessible formats and technologies without discrimination for blind / visually impaired persons and print disability.
20. Parliament should advocate for accurate data to be collected on the number of persons with disabilities in their respective countries.
21. Parliament should through legislation ensure that all service providers be trained in inclusive education (including teachers and healthcare workers etc.).
22. Parliaments should through legislation ensure that persons with disabilities are directly involved in the design, development and delivery of inclusive products and serves.
23. Parliaments should enact laws and encourage the formulation of policies around universal design of buildings, roads, products, services and technologies.
24. Parliaments should work with civil society organisations (CSOs) in disability rights advocacy.
25. CPA Parliaments should support each other in inter-parliamentarian advocacy work in relations to persons with disabilities.
26. Parliaments should ensure that health facilities have reasonable accommodation and insurance cover in place to assist persons with disabilities’ access services and products (The Tanzanian case).
27. All delegations from all countries to CPA general assemblies or conference must be gender and persons with disability sensitive.
28. All CPA branches have obligation to facilitate Members attendance to all meetings.
29. SRHR RESOLUTIONS MUST BE INCLUDED
30. Unanimously Adopted on Thursday, 17 th November 2022 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania