Advocates call for effective enforcement of Disability Act

Despite the numerous provisions in the Disability Act aimed at improving the welfare of persons with disabilities, enforcement remains a challenge.

This concern was highlighted during a two-day advocacy meeting of the Network for Girls and Women with Disabilities in Malawi (NEGWDM), organized by the Pamodzi Kuthetsa Nkhanza consortium in Dedza.

The consortium—comprising the Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC), Girls Empowerment Network (GENET), and Human Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities (WAG), worked with NEGWDM to identify key areas of the Disability Act that require advancement to ensure effective implementation.

The initiative was funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK government.

Participants raised concerns about persistent challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including inaccessible infrastructure, barriers in education, and ongoing stigma and discrimination—especially in the workplace.

Facilitating the session, Counsel Mike Chinoko stressed that owners of institutions that remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities could face legal action.

“As CSOs, you must advocate for the enforcement of these provisions so that people are aware of their rights and can claim them,” he urged.

Both WAG Disability Rights Executive Director Stella Nkhonya and NEGWDN member Scader Louis commended the meeting, highlighting its importance in raising awareness and driving the implementation of the Act.

The participants were also enlightened on key legal provisions protecting the rights of women and girls with disabilities.

At the end of the meeting, NEGWDM members developed a strategic proposal aimed at driving meaningful change, leveraging their enhanced understanding of legal frameworks.

Key priorities include:

Accessible Infrastructure: Engaging councils to ensure that new buildings and essential service providers, such as banks, schools, hospitals, and public offices, are fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

Organizational Strengthening: Establishing a clear structure for the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) to improve service delivery and better support its members.

Disability Trust Fund: Pushing for a well-monitored trust fund to manage donations, equipment, and schools for persons with disabilities, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Capacity Building: Providing training at both local and national levels to enhance skills and knowledge among people with disabilities.

Civic Education: Raising awareness about disability rights and fostering self-advocacy among persons with disabilities.

In the same vein, the Consortium is also working with the NGO-Gender Coordination Network to identify issues in the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act that require advancement to ensure effective implementation of the Act.

Nkhonya hints that the fight against Violence Against Women and Girls requires a holistic approach.

NGO-GCN Chairperson for the Gender-Related Laws committee, Caroline Mvalo, emphasized the need to reevaluate the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to current challenges.