United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Current state in Zambia : Perspective from PWDs
Zimba, Yvonne (2016)
Zimba, Yvonne
Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu
2016
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201604295468
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201604295468
Tiivistelmä
Yvonne Zimba. Zambia. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): The current state and perspectives from PWDS in Zambia. Language: English. Helsinki, Spring 2016. 37 pages. 3 Appendices.
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Social Services. Bachelors of Social Services.
The study specifically aims to understand the current status in domestication of the United Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the awareness levels among persons with disabilities on the same in Zambia. The study explored the efforts made by the government of Zambia in implementing or domesticating the UNCRPD as well as efforts by persons with disabilities to advocate for the domestication of the UNCRPD. It also uncovered the individual knowledge levels among persons with disabilities about the UNCRPD, its importance and relevance in their day to day lives.
The study is based on the qualitative research method. A thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data collected. Data was collected at three levels, desk, semi structured interviews and focus group discussions was used to collect information. Leaders of Disability organizations were interviewed individually.
The main findings of the study indicate that steps have been taken towards domestication of the UNCRPD through the enactment of the Persons with disabilities Act no 6 of 2012, the launch of the national disability policy and other efforts at policy level. The government is also in the process of its country report on the status of the UNCRPD to the UN However, not much has been done in implementation. Other findings show that organizations of persons with disabilities have made efforts in advocating for the domestication of the UNCRPD such creation of their own monitoring tools of the domestication of the UNCRPD, However, leaders of DPOs have limited capacity to understand what the process of domestication entails and this has somehow limited their advocacy capacities. There is also limited knowledge among civil servants working in the key ministries on the UNCRPD and the lack of direct responsibility and ownership as to who is supposed to know what the UNCRPD is. Individual persons with disabilities are aware about the existence of the UNCRPD but do not fully understand what its local implications are and seem to be more interested in government implementing those provisions even though they do not seem to be clear what the provisions are but they know they are “good”.
Key words: disability, accessibility, discrimination, domestication, disability rights, UNCRPD.
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Social Services. Bachelors of Social Services.
The study specifically aims to understand the current status in domestication of the United Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the awareness levels among persons with disabilities on the same in Zambia. The study explored the efforts made by the government of Zambia in implementing or domesticating the UNCRPD as well as efforts by persons with disabilities to advocate for the domestication of the UNCRPD. It also uncovered the individual knowledge levels among persons with disabilities about the UNCRPD, its importance and relevance in their day to day lives.
The study is based on the qualitative research method. A thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data collected. Data was collected at three levels, desk, semi structured interviews and focus group discussions was used to collect information. Leaders of Disability organizations were interviewed individually.
The main findings of the study indicate that steps have been taken towards domestication of the UNCRPD through the enactment of the Persons with disabilities Act no 6 of 2012, the launch of the national disability policy and other efforts at policy level. The government is also in the process of its country report on the status of the UNCRPD to the UN However, not much has been done in implementation. Other findings show that organizations of persons with disabilities have made efforts in advocating for the domestication of the UNCRPD such creation of their own monitoring tools of the domestication of the UNCRPD, However, leaders of DPOs have limited capacity to understand what the process of domestication entails and this has somehow limited their advocacy capacities. There is also limited knowledge among civil servants working in the key ministries on the UNCRPD and the lack of direct responsibility and ownership as to who is supposed to know what the UNCRPD is. Individual persons with disabilities are aware about the existence of the UNCRPD but do not fully understand what its local implications are and seem to be more interested in government implementing those provisions even though they do not seem to be clear what the provisions are but they know they are “good”.
Key words: disability, accessibility, discrimination, domestication, disability rights, UNCRPD.