CRPD's impact on the lives of persons with disabilities in Africa.

1. CRPD's impact on the lives of persons with disabilities in Africa. Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo Senior Operations Officer World Bank C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

2. Introduction • Overview of disability in Africa • Africa & the negotiations of CRPD • Implications of CRPD for Africa C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

3. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

4. An overview • Every day in Africa, many people are disabled by malnutrition and diseases, environmental hazards, natural disasters, traffic and industrial accidents, civil conflict and war. • As a concomitant of improvements in child survival, the numbers of children surviving with disabilities are increasing. • As more Africans survive to older age, the numbers of elderly people with disabilities are rising. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

5. People with disabilities in Africa • The African Continent has a large number of persons with disabilities in both urban and rural areas who live in poverty and with very limited basic social services, opportunities and inadequate legal framework to promote and protect their basic rights and needs. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

6. People with disabilities are Disproportionately Poor • Facts: • 20-30% of the poor are disabled* • Cameroon - 40.2% of the general population is poor while 50.6% of the disabled population is poor* • Uganda -22% of the general population is poor while 42% of the disabled population is poor * • Poverty is transferred inter-generationally in households with a disabled head** • Estimated loss of annual global GDP on account of disability range between $US1.37-1.94 trillion*** • Reasons: *Poverty Reduction Strategies: Their Importance For Disability, World Bank, July 7, 2004. **A Guide to the Analysis of Risk, Vulnerability and Vulnerable Groups, Social Protection Unit, World Bank. *** R. Metts, Disability Issues , Trends and Recommendations for the World Bank, Social Protection Unit, 2000. Ill health Increased health costs due to disability Inadequate access to health/rehabilitative services Lack of access to basic necessities Lack of access to basic education Lack of employment C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

7. Exclusion is the norm • The vast majority of Africans with disabilities are excluded from schools, opportunities to work and from political spaces. • PRSPs often exclude people with disabilities. • The social stigma associated with disability results in marginalization and isolation. • Persons with disabilities remain among the most marginalized of all populations and are barred by a wide range of physical, legal and social barriers from achieving their full potential.  C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

8. How does African society view disability? • When a person becomes disabled or a child with a disability is born, the person & family enters a world of stereotyped notions, social exclusion & discrimination. • Still remains a stigma. • Often influenced by religions which see disability as a curse/ manifestation of sin & disgrace in the family. • Charity & pity are common responses. • Witchcraft. • Reduces the value of the person. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

9. Africa and the CRPD • July-Aug 2002 – Few African delegates- AHC • June 2003 -Played an increasingly active role in the negotiations • 7/27 Africa countries - in the WG. • DPOs represented by the African Decade Secr. • May 2003 -African Regional Consultative Conference Johannesburg, South Africa. • August 2006-6 African countries abstained and 16 were absent during the vote. • Dec 2006-adoption of the CPRD and the OP. • March 2007-Open for ratification. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

10. ALGERIA BURKINA FASO BURUNDI CAPE VERDE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CONGO ( Republic of ) CÔTE D'IVOIRE EGYPT ETHIOPIA GABON GHANA GUINEA KENYA LIBERIA MALI MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE NAMIBIA NIGER NIGERIA SENEGAL SEYCHELLES SIERRA LEONE SOUTH AFRICA SUDAN TUNISIA UGANDA UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA Signed the CRPD C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

11. CRPD • Adopted by the GA ( December 2006) • CRPD was one of the fastest treaties ever negotiated at the UN. • Full inclusion of disabled people & DPOs C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

12. CPRD provides • Clear legal framework to ensure effective implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities for State parties. • It involves NHRI as well as the civil society participation. • It raises awareness on disability, ( stereotypes and prejudices). • It establishes a new treaty monitoring mechanism C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

13. Why is the CRPD so important? • It creates a new binding powerful legal source for better advancement and safeguarding disability rights at all aspects of social life and development. • It is a powerful vehicle for bringing social positive changes, progress and development for all persons with disabilities. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

14. Implications for Africa • By ratifying, nations "reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others." • Enforcement of the treaty will be largely up to national governments. • Need for capacity building of all stakeholders. • National and continental challenges of the reconstruction and development of our continent. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

15. NEPAD (5 strategic levels) • Development of policies and legislation. • Design, development and implementation of programmes and projects • Participation in sector and project specific task teams. • Development of monitoring indicators and processes showing impact. • Participation in the advocacy and lobbying campaigns. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

16. The African Decade (2000-2009) • July 1999 – African decade proclaimed by the AU assembly of Heads of States • July 2000- Declaration adopted by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government • February 2002 -A Continental Plan of Action for the Decade was drafted in Addis Ababa. • July 2002 - adopted by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government • April 2004- a Secretariat for the Decade was created. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

17. The African Decade1999–2009 • The Decade Secretariat is mandated to implement the Continental Plan of Action. • The Continental Plan of Action is being actively applied in 9 countries-Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Libya. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

18. Legislation Botswana Ghana Kenya Mozambique Tanzania South Africa Uganda Zimbabwe. Nigeria is in the process of adopting legislation. Constitutional provisions Benin Burundi Cote D’Ivoire Gabon Gambia Ghana Madagascar Mozambique Niger Seychelles South Africa Uganda Disability related legislation. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

19. The role of DPO’s • Lobby governments effectively. • Ensure that govt. engages with donors on disability as a key concern that needs to be mainstreamed in all development projects. • Build capacity among all stakeholders. • Be part of the national monitoring process. • Stay informed and involved. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

20. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. • The Commission has not addressed Disability in any great detail. • DPO’s need to seek affiliation to the Commission. • Commission has planned to hold a workshop on people with disabilities. C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

21. In conclusion • Business cannot continue as usual • Legal basis to hold states accountable C.V. McClain-Nhlapo