United Nations Collaborates with Zambia to Strengthen Disability Inclusion Through Policy and Advocacy
United Nations Collaborates with Zambia to Strengthen Disability Inclusion Through Policy and Advocacy
By Jessie C. Bwalya
The United Nations, through the International Labour Organization (ILO), is working in partnership with the Zambian government to enhance inclusive systems that empower persons with disabilities (PWDs). This initiative aligns with global commitments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Zambia’s Persons with Disabilities Act No. 6 of 2012 (ILO, 2023; UN Zambia, 2022).
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard ZM, ILO National Project Officer Mwiya Katukula Muya highlighted the organization’s technical assistance to the Zambian government, facilitated through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), and other key institutions. This support has contributed to the development of national policies and mainstreaming guidelines aimed at improving the welfare and inclusion of PWDs (Muya, 2024).
However, Muya emphasized that effective implementation remains a challenge. “Disability must be mainstreamed across all sectors. Without this, PWDs will continue facing exclusion in employment, healthcare, and access to public services,” he stated. He further underscored the intersection of disability and poverty, attributing part of the problem to non-inclusive education systems. Criticizing the segregation of children with albinism into special education programs, he argued that such practices perpetuate exclusion and limit future employment opportunities (ILO, 2023).
“This system leads to poor educational outcomes, trapping individuals in cycles of poverty, cognitive impairments due to malnutrition, and lifelong marginalization,” Muya explained. He also identified cultural misconceptions as a significant barrier, citing instances where dementia is wrongly associated with witchcraft, leading to stigmatization. Additionally, he noted cases where marriages dissolve following the birth of a child with a disability, calling for broader societal acceptance of disability as part of human diversity (WHO, 2022).
“Persons with disabilities must not be hidden away. They deserve equal access to opportunities and must be recognized as active contributors to society,” Muya urged.
Workshop Participants Advocate for Greater Inclusion
The ILO’s efforts were reinforced by participants at a recent two-day capacity-building workshop on disability inclusion in public institutions. Raphael Chanda, a visually impaired representative from the Ministry of Tourism, described the training as timely and crucial in deepening understanding of disability rights.
“Disability can affect anyone. This workshop is vital in raising awareness and should be expanded to other institutions to safeguard the rights of PWDs,” Chanda emphasized (Chanda, 2024).
Similarly, Pamela Chapela Tembo from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development commended the workshop for enhancing her grasp of disability mainstreaming policies.
“We are now better equipped to develop inclusive plans, engage respectfully with PWDs, and ensure they are treated as equal partners in development,” she stated (Tembo, 2024).
The workshop forms part of a broader UN-Zambia strategy to ensure no one is left behind in national development, including the full implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act (2012). This initiative reflects Zambia’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10—reducing inequalities—and SDG 8, which promotes inclusive employment (UN Zambia, 2022).
References
- International Labour Organization (ILO). (2023). Disability Inclusion in Zambia: Policy and Implementation.
- United Nations Zambia. (2022). Leaving No One Behind: Disability Inclusion in National Development.
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Disability and Stigma: Global Perspectives.
- Muya, M. K. (2024). Interview on Disability Inclusion in Zambia. Vanguard ZM.
- Chanda, R. (2024). Workshop Participant Testimony.
- Tembo, P. C. (2024). Workshop Participant Testimony.
