Tanzania Urged to Ratify African Disability Protocol

Stakeholders Urge Tanzania to Ratify African Disability Protocol

DODOMA, March 20, 2025 – Stakeholders have called on the Tanzanian government to expedite the ratification of the African Disability Protocol (ADP) to enhance the protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities across various sectors.

The ADP, adopted in January 2018 during the 30th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, serves as a continent-wide legal framework guiding AU member states in developing disability-inclusive laws and policies. Despite its significance, Tanzania has yet to ratify the protocol.

Call for Swift Action

The appeal was made during a recent awareness and advocacy training session in Dodoma, organized by Sight Savers in collaboration with disability rights organizations and journalists. The event aimed to highlight the protocol’s importance in advancing equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Speaking at the event, Advocate Gideon Mandes, a director of a non-governmental organization focusing on disability rights, emphasized the protocol's role in ensuring equal access to education, employment, healthcare, economic empowerment, and accessible infrastructure.

"It also promotes political and public participation for persons with disabilities while offering specific protections for women, girls, and children with disabilities," he stated.

Mandes further noted that the ratification process requires consultations between the Union Government and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar before it can proceed.

Integrating Disability Rights into National Policies

Echoing the call for ratification, Ms. Sophia Mhando, a representative from the Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organisations (SHIVYAWATA), urged the government to prioritize disability rights by formally adopting the protocol. She highlighted its potential impact on integrating healthcare rights for women with disabilities into national policies and legal frameworks.

Meanwhile, Ms. Upendo Minja, Eye Health Project Coordinator at Sight Savers, underscored the crucial role of the media in advocating for the protocol’s ratification and raising public awareness of disability rights.

"So far, 16 countries have ratified the protocol. Through media engagement, we can enhance public understanding and encourage the government to take the necessary steps toward ratification," she explained.

Strengthening Tanzania’s Commitment to Disability Rights

Ms. Neema Kalole, Policy, Advocacy, and Influencing Officer for East, Central, and Southern Africa at Sight Savers, noted that ratification would reaffirm Tanzania’s dedication to advancing disability rights on the continental stage.

"For instance, in some African countries, persons with albinism continue to face severe threats, including killings. The ADP directly addresses such challenges, providing solutions tailored to Africa’s unique context," she said.

She further emphasized that the protocol aligns with Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to improve disability rights, including the review of the 2004 National Disability Policy. Its ratification, she added, would strengthen advocacy efforts and reinforce Tanzania’s commitment to eliminating human rights violations against persons with disabilities.

A Protocol Designed for Africa

The African Disability Protocol is uniquely structured to address region-specific challenges, ensuring that no individual is left behind. It provides a comprehensive framework for inclusive policies, legal protections, and enforcement mechanisms that safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities across the continent.

With growing calls for action from advocacy groups, stakeholders remain hopeful that Tanzania will prioritize ratification, furthering its progress toward an inclusive and equitable society for all.