An East African Legislative Assembly member has urged the East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers to act on measures for persons with disabilities, citing a regional bill passed in 2016 that has not become law.
The motion, moved by EALA member Alex Bahati, says the East African Community Persons with Disabilities Bill has not received the required assent.
The motion asks the Council of Ministers to finalize and implement a policy on reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities working within the Community. It also asks that buildings and facilities belonging to EAC organs and institutions be made accessible.
The motion says some EAC institutions, including the Assembly chamber, have inadequate ramps, handrails and audio facilities in lifts. It says this could hinder access for people with physical, visual and hearing impairments.
It says accessible facilities and reasonable accommodation are necessary to promote equality, dignity, safety and nondiscrimination, and to allow persons with disabilities to participate fully in employment and public life.
Victor Burikukiye, an EALA member from Burundi, said the issue deserved greater attention, citing the share of the population affected.
“There is a demographic survey in East Africa, 15.4 percent live with disability,” he said.
Burikukiye said more people are at risk of developing disabilities through illness and disease complications. He said all EAC partner states have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognizes the right to work on an equal basis with others and calls for protection against discrimination in employment.
Olivier Nkurunziza, another EALA member from Burundi, said improving the lives of persons with disabilities required accessible infrastructure and services.
“There is need to develop proper infrastructure like roads, transport systems, schools, access to health care and digital services for persons with disabilities,” he said. He also called for measures to economically empower persons with disabilities.
