Spotlight on people living with blindness

AN organisation advocating for the rights of the visually impaired, African Union of the Blind is calling on Zimbabwe to ratify the Africa Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa.

The Charter, commonly referred to as the Marrakesh Treaty, seeks to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human and people’s rights by all persons with disabilities, and to ensure respect for their inherent dignity.

In an interview African Union of the Blind president Mr Ishmael Zhou said once the treaty is ratified, it will help in the recognition of rights of people living with disabilities.

“Endorsing this treaty will make it easy to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. We also want the Government to commit to reporting on measures taken and progress made towards the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” said Mr Zhou.

He added that the Government should commit to the creation of favourable regulations that increase access to assistive technology by persons with disabilities to support inclusive education, jobs and personal development.

During the seventh Africa Forum On Visual Impairment that was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia recently, issues were raised on the need to respect the rights of the persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life and to access, on an equal basis with others, the physical environment, transportation, information and other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.

Mr Zhou, who is also the executive director of the Zimbabwe National League of the Blind, said there were a number of issues affecting people who are blind.

“We want affirmation of the rights of persons with disabilities to education without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity. We also want to be involved in innovation, new technologies in creating an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable development,” he said.