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

2 nd Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Conference from 14 th to 18 th

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.

5

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.

6

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

Unanimously Adopted on Thursday, 17 th November 2022

in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania