African Decade for Disabled Persons (ADDP)

This initiative draws centrally on the strategy of multi-sectoral partnership to undertake a variety of programmes and plans that feature the full participation of persons with disability. Specifically, governments are working in partnership with organisations of persons with disabilities, international organisations (including the United Nations and its specialised agencies), the AU and its specialised agencies, social partnerships (i.e., organisations of employers and workers), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other civil society organisations (CSOs). For instance, the ADDP Action Plan calls upon African Union member states and governments to join together to study the situation of persons with disabilities, with a view to formulating measures favouring equalisation of opportunities, full participation, and independence in society.

Drawing on these collaborations, those taking part in this initiative are encouraged to undertake advocacy efforts - for instance, by formulating or reformulating policies and national programmes that encourage the full participation of persons with disabilities in social and economic development. Another example of suggested action includes spearheading the implementation of the UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities and ensuring the use of the Standard Rules as a basis for policy and legislation, as well as mainstreaming disability on the social economic and political agendas of African governments. Participants are also urged to create and/or reinforce national disability coordination committees that feature effective representation of disabled persons and their organisations.

In addition to building effective partnerships amongst ADDP stakeholders, capacity-building of disability organisations and allies in the region is being undertaken, as well as public education events and improved regional communications designed to raise public awareness of disability issues. Examples of projects developed in 2004-2005 include:

• The training of national disabled people's organisations in information and communications technology (ICT) to enable creation of websites and the exchange of information and experience in a relatively low-cost format;
• assistance in organising an African network of women with disabilities;
• development of a training manual on mainstreaming disability into development projects, aimed at leaders and managers of disabled people's organisations; and
• training of national HIV/AIDS organisations to mainstream disability into existing programmes.

Economic Development, Rights, Health.

Organisers explain that, every day in Africa, many people are disabled by malnutrition and diseases, environmental hazards, natural disasters, traffic and industrial accidents, civil conflict, and war. At minimum, people with disabilities comprise 10% of any population; in Africa, the total would be at least 60 million people. Also, as a result of improvements in child survival, the numbers of children surviving with disabilities are increasing. Similarly, as more Africans survive to older age, the numbers of elderly people with disabilities are rising. Organisers contend that "[t]he vast majority of Africans with disabilities are excluded from schools, opportunities to work and participation in poverty reduction programs, virtually guaranteeing that they will live out their lives as the poorest of the poor....The social stigma associated with disability results in marginalisation and isolation, often leading to begging as the sole means of survival. A consequence of living in poverty with a disability is inadequate access to health services, resulting frequently in serious secondary conditions and general deterioration of the quality of life. Additional complications are caused by inaccessible health services and lack of knowledge about health implications of disabling conditions."