MALAWI GOVERNMENT RATIFIES AFRICAN DISABILITY PROTOCOL

In just a day after parliament passed the much-awaited Persons with Disabilities Bill, the Malawi government has ratified the other much awaited African Disability Protocol (ADP).

In a statement released on 6 December by Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed by the minister responsible, Nancy Tembo, states the ratification has been made without reservations. 

'It is the wish of the Government of Malawi to ratify the said protocol. Now, therefore I, Nancy Tembo, M.P. Minister of Foreign Affairs for and on behalf of Malawi, declares that the Government of Malawi, having Considered the above protocol, I ratify the same and undertakes faithful to perform contained', reads the statement in part.

It further reads, ' I witness wherefor, I have signed this instrument of ratification at Lilongwe on this 6th day of December, 2023'. 

According to Joseph Chiona, President of University of Malawi (UNIMA) Disability Rights Clinic, who spoke during  the symposium organized by Federation of Disability organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA) on 3 December 2023 in Zomba as part of commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD0, he stressed the need by the Melawi Government to expedite the ratifications of ADP saying this will help the promotion and protection of rights of persons with disabilities in the country.

The protocol to the African Charter on human and people's Rights on Heads of States during the 30th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) which was held in Adis Ababa Ethiopia on 29th January 2018, adopted African Disability Protocol.