UN special rapporteur praises Zambia over disability rights

A United Nations Special Rapporteur on Thursday praised Zambia for its efforts to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

"Zambia has the potential to become a disability champion in the African region, provided that the government makes it a priority to implement the policy and legal framework on disability," Catalina Devandas said when concluding a fact-finding mission to the southern African nation.

The UN expert said numerous initiatives had been launched by authorities in Zambia to improve the protection framework for persons with disabilities.

The moves included the strengthening of institutions dealing with disability issues, a national disability survey, and efforts to include persons with disabilities in social protection, she said.

She called on the authorities to address challenges such as the gap between rural and urban areas in access to services for the disabled, and the protection of women and girls with disabilities.

Devandas arrived in Zambia on April 18 to examine the situation of persons with disabilities in the country.

She is expected to present a report to the UN Human Rights Council in 2017 on the main findings of her visit and her recommendations. Endit