TWO weeks back, Zambia joined the rest of the world in cerebrating the International day of persons with disabilities under the theme, ‘Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology.’
Focus was on the role of technology in disaster risk reduction and emergency responses, creating enabling working environments and disability-inclusive sustainable development goals.
The annual observance of the International Day of disabled persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Since 2009, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs organizes a film festival as a part of the events at UN Headquarters to commemorate the Day. The United Nations Enable Film Festival (UNEFF) includes short disability-related films selected on the basis of their content and message that can help raise awareness of disability issues and further promote the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society.
Reflecting on this day I switched on my radio with hope to hear activities lined up for Government and disabled peoples Organisations but the day ended with political news.
December 3, is a day provided internationally for the disabled to bring out issues affecting them and present them to the Government, however, for 2014 this day has gone without a word.
The Day for the disabled was commemorated under very important theme which must help breaking the barriers, open doors for sustainable development and development for all.
The theme was inspiring and timely to African Governments to ensure that policies they develop remove barriers and create an inclusive and accessible society for all regardless of one status in a particular Nation or society.
As we reflect on this important day we must recognise that there is a paradigm shift worldwide in terms of approach to disability as fundamental human rights as provided for in United Nations convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities.
As at today 157, countries have appended their signatures on United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Disabled. This is good as we move toward to that inclusive society which will take disabilities as cross cutting issues and promote mainstreaming to disabilities policies and programmes.
Signing of United Nation Convention on the right of persons with disability in itself does not mean that the convention is Law. As at today 90 signatures are appended by member States  on option of protocols  which is a clear  indication that the world  has changed  and committed to the  welfare of  persons  with disabilities.
As at today, 199 ratifications and accessions to the convention and 72 accessions to protocols which is encouraging but there is need for more concerted efforts by all.
For me the theme will be meaningless if the African Union and other regional grouping will not reposition themselves first to address identified barriers and one important visible barrier is lack of a coordination body of disability issues at the African level.
The  member States of the African  Union should  push for a powerful  directorate of disability Affairs within the commission  which  will  play an oversight role backed by a clear  disability  agenda at  head of States level  and can monitor the implementation of the signed and ratified united nations  convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
The African Union and other regional grouping have pushed the agenda for women, youths in terms of representation and i believe it can push this agenda for enforcement and domestication of the convention.
Breaking barriers needs concerted efforts by all and for this to be archived it is important that the African Union established a directorate and be headed by a commissioner whose responsibilities will be to support members States in terms of smooth implementation of the conventions, align national laws to the conventions and reviews of national policies in line with the provision of the conventions.
I am aware and i have participated in the proposed restructuring of African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI) as disability specialized agency of the African Union which was established by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) but until now very little progress has been achieved four years down the line.
It is a fact that no member country can direct a country on best practice on disability but with the directorate established, the commissioner for disability at the African Union will present reports during the general assembly of the commissioner on how many countries in Africa have domesticated the conventions and established proper mechanism of removing barriers and open new doors to persons with disabilities.
With good political will, we have seen toward disability by many African Government which have signed and  are in the process of domesticating the conventions on disabolity  for  the benefit of disabled people and provide sustainable rehabilitation in a more inclusive approach in  line with the world call for creation of society for all, the African Union must put disabilities on the centre stages of its programmes.
The AU should work with the commission for social development at United Nations level and ensure that Africa focus on social inclusion and increased policy formulation by member States if the doors are to be opened for development for all.
The African Union should ensure that member States implement provisions of United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities which is a basis for creation of inclusive society for all.
The cooperating partners must work with African Governments for specific cooperation and help to review all aspects of social development policies more especially removing of barriers in education, employment, transportation, health, sports and ensure that an inclusive society is attained by most Governments.
There is need for African Governments to introduce special transport for persons with Disabilities more especially those using public transport if the issue of inclusive and accessibility is to be addressed effectively.
So far Zambia, Malawi and South Africa are good example in terms of developing legal frame work which has addressed the plight of persons with disabilities despite the fact the more efforts need to be done if an inclusive society for all is to be achieved.
It is encouraging  that in a process to create inclusive society for all, the Patriotic Front Government  has included  persons with disabilities in social cash transfer programme  which has  changed lives  of  the most vulnerable  but  viable Zambians.
Government has also increased funding to Zambia Agency for persons with Disabilities from K5, 000,000 to K9, 000,000 for the first time in 20 years which is a clear testimony that Community Development Mother and Child Health minister Emerine Kabanshi and her team have provided needed leadership to see that mainstreaming of disability in all sectors is archived.
The disabled strongly feel the creation of an inclusive society is possible if citizens accept persons with disabilities as partners in development with rights of participation in issues affecting them such as review of Laws relating to employment, education, Health, sheltered employment (SE) and remove barriers from legislation or policies, or from societal attitudes or discrimination if real inclusive society for all is to be created.
The author is a Associate Professor at ICOF Colleges Seminary and Universities and Disability policy Analyst for SADC and Inclusive Development Advisor for Centre for Disability Development Research, Law and Policy, Johannesburg
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