The Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa or draft African Disability Protocol, ADP is an African protocol that ensures inclusion of persons with disabilities in Africa without discrimination.
The African Union of the Blind, AFUB is currently involved in an active campaign to get 15 member states to commit to ratifying the protocol when it opens for ratification in early 2018. To achieve this, AFUB, together with other regional disability organisations, is seeking the commitment of African governments, through their Embassies and High Commissions in Kenya, to ratify the Protocol as soon as it is open for ratification. AFUB is also seeking the commitment of the Kenyan government as the country in which AFUB has its headquarters, to ratify the protocol.
On 16th November 2017, AFUB representatives met with Honourable Senator Dr Gertrude Musuruve Inimah and Honourable David Sankok, member of the National Assembly of Kenya to discuss the African Disability Protocol, ADP ratification by Kenya.
During the discussion, Senator Musuruve said ‘as at now, none of the legislators is aware of the core issues in the ADP and need to be taken through the document step by step’. The honourable Senator suggested that AFUB organize an induction workshop on the ADP, where they will be taken through the document and therefore be able to understand it better. She added that they would be willing to mobilise other legislators to attend the workshop. Other legislators both in the Senate and the National Assembly of Kenya, as well as other relevant stakeholders in the disability arena, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection among others will be invited to the workshop. The Honourable Senator said that involving other members of the House is crucial to support a document once presented in the House.
‘We are your representatives in parliament and we would really appreciate you engaging us in such important issues that touch on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), said Senator Musuruve.
As AFUB continues in its campaign for ratification of the ADP, there are prospects of holding an ADP induction workshop for PWD legislators in Kenya early next year so as to ensure that Kenya is among the first 15 countries to ratify the protocol.