ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar National Council for People with Disabilities, Executive Secretary Ussi Khamis Debe, has urged stakeholders to push for the ratification of the African Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
He said the support will help the document to be submitted to the Parliament for approval.
Mr Debe said that ratifying the protocol would help implementing disability rights across various sectors in the country.
He said so far, about 15 African countries have ratified the protocol.
Tanzania has yet to ratify it, but is in the process, aiming to ensure its commitment to protecting disability rights.”
He said meetings helps move the process forward before the protocol is officially submitted to the government and Parliament for ratification.
Neema Kalole, a Policy Officer for East, Central and Southern Africa, Sightsavers, said at the working session for stakeholders that there is limited time to finalise and present the protocol for Parliamentary approval.
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She called on all stakeholders to ensure their contributions help raise awareness about disability rights and support sustainable development.
Presenting a summary of the protocol, advocate Gideon Nandes, Chair of the Monitoring Task Force on Protocol Ratification, said it emphasises human rights and responsibilities, focusing on protection and respect.
He said the protocol contains 44 articles, with the first 34 addressing rights and responsibilities of persons with disabilities and their inclusion, while the remaining focus on administrative issues.
“One unique element in the protocol is a specific clause banning the ritual killings and persecution of persons with albinism based on superstitious beliefs,” he explained as Mr Ali Omar Makame from the Zanzibar Federation of Disabled Persons Organisations said the process will help empower persons with disabilities in economic, political and cultural spheres.
He added that it addresses gaps in laws and regulations concerning persons with disabilities both in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
