GOVERNMENT has been urged to enact laws which ensure that people with disabilities are well represented in decision making, especially as the country heads for another general election.
Albino Trust of Zimbabwe (ATZ) made the call as the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which is celebrated on December 3.
The commemorations ran under the theme: Transformative solutions for inclusive development: The role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world.
“People with disabilities are underrepresented in key decision-making processes, platforms and activities which inappropriately affect them as far as decision making is concerned as their voices are not heard towards the 2023 harmonised elections,” ATZ director Bruce Nyoni, told NewsDay.
“We recommend that there be more user-friendly laws and policies that govern the disability sector. As we speak now we don’t have a Disability Act after the Disabled Persons Act of 1992 was repealed. We only have the National Disability policy; we don’t have the Act.”
Nyoni urged authorities to implement the 2013 United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In a statement, UN Women said women with disabilities were the worst affected in terms of under representation in decision making.
“While both men and women with disabilities are underrepresented, evidence from 19 countries in 2017 shows that only 2,3% of women with disabilities, compared to 2,8% of men with disabilities held a position as a legislator, senior official or manager.”
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