{"id":2121,"date":"2025-09-01T09:04:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T09:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/?p=2121"},"modified":"2025-10-25T14:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T14:51:23","slug":"diwa-engages-pan-african-parliament-on-model-law-in-accre-athens-nairobi-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/diwa-engages-pan-african-parliament-on-model-law-in-accre-athens-nairobi-kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"DIWA engages Pan African Parliament on Model Law in Accra Ghana &amp; Nairobi, Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>DIWA Elevates Disability Inclusion in Continental Gender Lawmaking<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nairobi, Kenya &amp; Accra, Ghana in August \u2013 2025<\/strong><br>Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) made a significant contribution to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and African Union (AU) consultative processes on the Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity, held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2024, and in\u00a0Accra, Ghana in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The consultations were part of a continent-wide effort to refine and validate the Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity, a landmark legislative framework that will harmonize gender equality and human rights standards across African Union Member States. The law seeks to operationalize commitments under the Maputo Protocol, the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights, and Agenda 2063, ensuring that all women and girls in Africa, especially those with disabilities, enjoy equal rights and opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recognizing that gender equality cannot be achieved without disability inclusion, DIWA sponsored six women with disabilities from Malawi and Zambia to participate and contribute to the consultative sessions in Nairobi and Accra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The delegation included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Beatrice Mutale and Trudy, both representing the <em>Zambia Federation of Women with Disabilities (ZAFWOD)<\/em>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Juliana Mbangwe, member of the <em>Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Malawi (NEGWDM)<\/em>; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ruth Mkutumula, Mwayiwathu Kusakala, and Musola Kaseketi from the <em>DIWA Secretariat<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their participation was supported through the SPADRA Project (Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa)&nbsp;,&nbsp; a regional initiative funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and implemented in consortium with the African Disability Forum (ADF) and Inclusion Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through this initiative, DIWA ensured that the lived realities, leadership, and policy insights of women with disabilities directly informed one of the AU\u2019s most important gender equality frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Women with Disabilities Influence the Gender Equality Agenda<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the consultations, DIWA\u2019s delegation presented strong, evidence-based recommendations emphasizing that the Model Law must explicitly integrate disability inclusion as a central pillar of gender equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The delegates advocated for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recognition of women with disabilities as a distinct group needing targeted policy measures;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accessibility and reasonable accommodation in governance, education, and employment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equal access to justice and political participation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stronger provisions on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protection against gender-based violence and harmful practices, including forced sterilization and institutionalization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cFor the first time, we felt that our experiences as women with disabilities were not just heard but valued,\u201d<\/em> said Beatrice Mutale, representing <em>Zambia Federation of Women with Disabilities<\/em>. <em>\u201cOur contribution reminded policymakers that gender equality in Africa cannot be complete if women with disabilities remain invisible in the laws that shape our lives.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThis process showed me that advocacy at the continental level begins with confidence and solidarity,\u201d<\/em> added <strong>Juliana Mbangwe<\/strong> from <em>NEGWDM \u2013 Malawi<\/em>. <em>\u201cWe brought the realities of rural women with disabilities into a space where policy is made, and it was powerful to see our voices influencing change.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inclusive Partnerships for Transformative Change<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DIWA\u2019s participation was part of its broader commitment under SPADRA to ensure women with disabilities lead and shape policy processes at regional and continental levels. The Pan-African Parliament\u2019s Committee on Gender, Family, Youth, and People with Disabilities commended DIWA for its inclusive advocacy, describing it as a model of partnership that aligns with the African Disability Protocol (ADP) and the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Step Forward for Africa\u2019s Gender Equality Agenda<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity is expected to be finalized and tabled for adoption by the Pan-African Parliament in 2026. Once adopted, it will serve as a<strong> <\/strong>guiding framework for AU Member States to align their national gender equality laws with inclusive and intersectional standards that protect and empower all women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DIWA and its partners under the SPADRA consortium remain committed to ensuring that the voices, priorities, and lived experiences of women with disabilities continue to shape Africa\u2019s evolving gender equality architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About the SPADRA Project<br>The Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa (SPADRA) Project is a multi-country initiative funded by SIDA and implemented in consortium with the African Disability Forum (ADF), Inclusion Africa, and Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA). It aims to enhance regional collaboration, advocacy, and leadership for the realization of disability rights across the African continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:33px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402157257-1024x611.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402157257-1024x611.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402157257-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402157257-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402157257-1536x916.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402157257-2048x1221.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:33px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402174289-1024x514.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402174289-1024x514.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402174289-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402174289-768x385.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1761402174289.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DIWA Elevates Disability Inclusion in Continental Gender Lawmaking Nairobi, Kenya &amp; Accra, Ghana in August \u2013 2025Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) made a significant contribution to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and African Union (AU) consultative processes on the Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity, held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2024, and in\u00a0Accra, Ghana in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlights"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2121"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2297,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121\/revisions\/2297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}