All posts by : AFUB ADMIN

Project Cycle Management is a structured  approach to manage multiple projects or programmes and to improve the quality of projects by learning from one project and applying the lessons in the following ones. It allows everyone working on the project to identify and monitor how the project is progressing; and whether there are any issues with particular aspects of the deliverables. 

AFUB is attending the 1st Africa Conference on Deaf Blindness under the theme: meeting the sustainable development goals opportunities and challenges.

The conference offers forum to discuss the future of deafness and services in Africa

Despite the current context of the COVID 19 pandemic, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, the Togolese Association of the Blind (ATA) with the support of the ADP Project (African Disability Protocol) celebrated the 2021 International White Cane Day under the theme chosen by Togo was: “the white cane and its carrier, what a look during and after COVID19“. This theme was debated throughout October on radio and television channels.

The glamorous afternoon event was opened by welcome remarks from the President of ATA and followed by the Vice-President of the FETAPH who set the ball rolling.

The climax of the celebration was marked by a conference-debate under the theme: “The African protocol on disability: a regional opportunity for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. Several well know individuals participated in this conference: the members of the Monitoring Committee of the ADP Project, the sister Associations of the ATA, the representatives of the FETAPH (Togolese Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities), the representatives of the international organizations intervening in the field of disability and media people. The panel discussion was moderated by Mr. MADOU Yaovi, who is visually impaired and has a doctorate in Public Law. Dr. MADOU Yaovi is also an associate assistant to the Public Universities of Togo.

Subsequently, Dr. BADAKU Maurice who holds a doctorate degree in education science took to the floor to raise public awareness on the use of the white cane. Dr. BADAKU Maurice is also a special education teacher and trainer of trainers in inclusive education / visual impairment and braille. It was also during this occasion that the ADP project was presented to the public for the first time after its successful launch in Togo by the project country coordinator.

At last, the highly anticipated moment came to pass when Dr. MADOU, the speaker of the day began his presentation with the definition of terms. He then highlighted the importance of this innovative protocol by explaining each article in simple French. He concluded by calling upon decision-makers at all levels to contribute towards the ratification of this continental legal instrument and to take measures for its effective implementation , keeping in mind that, each individual is a potential handicapped person.

We, participants to the Africa Regional Workshop on the Marrakesh Treaty held on 29^th to 30^th November 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya;

REAFFIRMING the freedom of persons with disabilities to seek, receive and access information on an equal basis with others and through forms of communication of their choice, as defined by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

CONCERNED that in many African States, laws protecting intellectual property rights continue to constitute an unreasonable barrier to access by persons with disabilities to published works in formats accessible to them

ACKNOWLEDGING that the Marrakesh Treaty facilitates access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled by requiring Contracting Parties to provide, in their national copyright laws, limitations or exceptions to facilitate the availability of works in accessible format copies for beneficiary persons

APPRECIATING the partnership between the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the World Blind Union (WBU), the African Disability Forum (ADF) and the African Union of the Blind (AFUB) in convening this Workshop

THEREFORE call upon;

1. All African governments to expedite the ratification, implementation and enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty and to integrate it into relevant national action plans
2. Development agencies to foster partnerships and allocate resources towards advocacy for the ratification, implementation and enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty in Africa
3. Content creators and distributors in Africa to adopt inclusive publishing and distribution of content in line with the Marrakesh Treaty
4. The World Blind Union to sustain the capacity development of its national members, particularly in Africa, towards advocacy for the ratification, implementation and enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty
5. The African Union of the Blind to facilitate mechanisms to popularize the Marrakesh Treaty among member states in order to expedite its ratification, implementation and enforcement
6. National organizations of persons who are blind or visually impaired in Africa to provide leadership in advocating for the ratification, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of the Marrakesh Treaty in their countries.

END

We the representatives of the youth in Central, Western, Eastern and Southern African Union/Organisations/Associations of the blind having gone through an intensive three-day training and appreciating work of AFUB towards promoting the youth agenda are:

1. Concerned that the AFUB constitution has not established a youth wing or a youth department in the AFUB constitution;
2. Worried of the fact that some member organisations of blind and partially sighted do not allow new leadership and democratic process;
3. Further concerned that some member organizations do not constitutionally recognize a youth wing;

We therefore, petition AFUB board and AFUB 9^th General Assembly:

1. That AFUB Board discusses and considers the need to establish a Youth Wing of AFUB and tables a memorandum for constitutional amendment at the AFUB General Assembly to that effect;
2. That the assembly considers to constitutionally established youth wing of AFUB;
3. That the national organizations that do not have youth wings should as a matter of urgency, be encouraged to establish one;
4. That democratic practices in leadership transition should be encouraged;
5. That emergence of new leaders should be encouraged;
6. That the unions should be encouraged to strengthen the youth activities in the unions;
7. That the national members should be encouraged to introduce initiatives of interest to the young people to encourage them to be members.

In line with AFUB ‘s objective of strengthening the self-awareness of blind and partially sighted persons and to develop sense of responsibility, one of AFUB efforts is to build the capacity of women and youth as self-advocates and to exercise self-determination and self-representation. In view of this, AFUB organized Youth’s workshop and trained them on Human Rights / CRPD/African Disability Protocol as well as the Sustainable Development Goals from 9^th-11^th April, 2019. Opportunity was used to discuss on how to establish AFUB Youth Committee and they came out with their action plan. In addition, there were discussions on how to use sporting activities as a tool for advocacy and for demonstrating the potentials of blind and partially sighted persons.

The main objective of the workshop was to prepare the Youth to engage with the board to establish Youth Committee for AFUB and improved capacity of the youth committee within AFUB to achieve its mandate more effectively.

a person each was selected from each of the AFUB geographical sub-regions attended the workshop. However, North Africa representative was not able to attend due to unavoidable circumstances at the Eleventh hour. Representatives from the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired (SRF) who are knowledgeable on youth and sporting programmes and some selected AFUB staff members were present, these are:

• Central Africa representative: Ms. N’levo N’zokafouka Solene Sophia Tania-Congo Brazzaville
• East Africa representative: Ms. Sikudhani Vaiolet Sanga-Tanzania
• Southern Africa representative: Ms. Esther Yanjanani Mbite-Malawi
• West Africa representative: Ms. Nina Efedi Okoroafor-Ghana
• Eveline Angonwi-Women chair, Cameroon, Yaoundé represented the board.
• two SRF representatives; Ms. Rania Walid Mohamed and Aniina Liisa Ragna Karlsdottir-Sweden

The deliberations of the conference were in English and French with available simultaneous interpretation facilities.

The youth’s workshop considered training and introduction on Human Rights instruments such as:

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD),
• The African Disability Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
• The sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030)
• Discussions on how to use sporting activities in Africa as a tool for advocacy and for exhibiting the potentials of blind and partially sighted persons in Africa.
• Training on AFUB policy on communication,
• Training on Gender mainstreaming.

At the end of the three-day interruptions and discussions, the conference achieved the following immediate results: 

• The Youth delegates developed their action plan and they were responsible for those plans.
• The Youth commenced using different platforms for communication and sharing of information among themselves and their region, especially progress of their action plans.
• The delegates have a better understanding of the key international and regional disability legislative instruments including UNCRPD, African Disability Protocol [ADP]
• Identified common sporting activities that can be jointly organized for advocacy purpose amongst the regional bodies of AFUB.
• Exchanged experiences and information between the Youth committee and the SRF representatives and discussed the way forward.
• Delegates plan to drive the establishment of youth committee of AFUB as part of AFUB’s political structure.
• Participants learned and shared from each other’s experience on youth related work.
• Participants gained a better understanding on human and disability rights.
• discussed how to use technology and communication skills as well as sports as tools for advocacy.

At the end of the forum, the youth agreed to file a petition to the general assembly on issues such as leadership in the unions, absence of established youth wings, the voice of women and youth in the society which is not heard. In view of this, the delegates agreed to influence their organizations to submit a proposal on the establishment of a youth wing or a youth department in the AFUB constitution by July. Only proposals from members who have paid their membership dues will be considered. They therefore came out with a declaration called “Nairobi Youth Declaration of AFUB”, which called the AFUB Board and General Assembly to support the establishment of Youth Committee within AFUB political structure.