DIWA’s Advocacy and Policy Influence Program drives the organization’s mission to ensure that the voices and priorities of women and girls with disabilities are heard, respected, and acted upon at national, regional, and continental levels. Through evidence-based advocacy, movement solidarity, and strategic engagement, DIWA works to shape laws, policies, and frameworks that advance gender equality, disability rights, and inclusive development across Africa.

This program focuses on influencing key policy processes within the African Union (AU), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), and other continental bodies, while also supporting member organizations to engage with national governments and human-rights mechanisms such as CEDAW, CRPD, and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Through coordinated advocacy campaigns, DIWA promotes the ratification and implementation of the African Disability Protocol (ADP) and the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG). The organization also contributes to broader gender and human-rights frameworks, including the Maputo Protocol, Beijing+30, and Agenda 2063, ensuring that disability inclusion is integrated into every conversation on equality and justice.

Through this program, DIWA continues to shape Africa’s policy landscape, bringing intersectionality, accountability, and the leadership of women with disabilities to the center of law and development.