Youth In Action For Disability Inclusion Zambia - YADIZ

Advancing Inclusive Development in Zambia

Today, as YADIZ we where privileged take part in a critical national consultation on the revision of the 2014 National Planning and Budgeting Policy and the participation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the implementation of the SDGs and the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP).

This consultation comes at a pivotal moment as Zambia strengthens inclusive, participatory and accountable planning systems ensuring that persons with disabilities are not just considered, but actively shaping development processes.

🔑 Why this matters:
✔️Participation of persons with disabilities is a human rights obligation, not optional
✔️Inclusive systems lead to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes
✔️Bridging gaps in Organisations of Persons with Disabilities engagement strengthens accountability and service delivery

📌 Key Outcome:
The consultation will deliver a disability rights participation checklist a practical, user-friendly tool to support Government institutions and OPDs in mainstreaming disability inclusion across planning, budgeting and monitoring systems.

Through this process, Zambia is taking a significant step toward systemic change, stronger coordination and truly inclusive service delivery.

🇿🇲

Zambia has long been a leader in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. Now is the time to take the next bold step.
By ratifying the African Disability Protocol (ADP), Zambia can deepen its commitment to inclusion, equality, and dignity for all persons with disabilities.

While Zambia has signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), it does not fully address unique African realities such as the specific challenges faced by persons with albinism, or barriers shaped by poverty, stigma, discrimination, and cultural contexts.

That’s why the African Disability Protocol is so important.
The ADP is Africa’s own powerful legal framework, developed through years of advocacy by persons with disabilities and their allies. It recognises our lived experiences and pushes governments to strengthen laws, policies, and systems in education, employment, healthcare, and daily life so that no one is left behind.

Zambia has the opportunity to continue leading on the continent.
It’s time to turn commitment into real action.
👉 Ratify the African Disability Protocol now.
Let us strengthen protection, inclusion, and dignity for every Zambian with a disability.

🚨 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖? 🚨

𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬!

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐥-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞:

📞 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐤 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖
(𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞-𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐞-𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 & 𝐙𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒)

📞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟕𝟎𝟏𝟎
(𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞)

📞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟗𝟗𝟏
(𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞)

📞 𝐙𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐀 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟕𝟎𝟕𝟎
(𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬)

📞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟖𝟏𝟖𝟏
(𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞)

📞 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟗𝟎𝟗
(𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭)

📞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟏𝟏𝟔 / 𝟗𝟑𝟑
(𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)

📞 𝐍𝐏𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 – 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟑𝟕𝟑𝟕
(𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲)

💡 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓:
𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬:

✔️ 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬
✔️ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧
✔️ 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 (𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬)
✔️ 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
✔️ 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐮𝐞𝐬

⚠️ 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄:
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐔𝐏. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥.

𝐀𝐭 𝐘𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐙, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬.

👉 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

#𝐘𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐙 #𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 #𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐀𝐥𝐥 #𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 #𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 #𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 #𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 #𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐆𝐁𝐕 #𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲

🌍 Accessibility is not just for persons with disabilities — it affects us all at different points in life.

Many people face barriers when environments, services, or information are not designed to be accessible. Here are some of the key groups impacted:

✅ Older persons (elderly) – Struggling with stairs, long distances, poor lighting, or lack of seating.
✅ Pregnant women – Finding it difficult to use public transport, climb stairs, or access health facilities.
✅ People with temporary injuries – A broken leg, sprain, or post-surgery recovery can suddenly require ramps and elevators.
✅ Children and small-sized persons – High counters, heavy doors, and inaccessible toilets make simple tasks challenging.
✅ People with chronic illnesses – Arthritis, asthma, heart conditions, and more can make movement and travel exhausting in poorly designed spaces.
✅ People in rural or remote areas – Lack of roads, digital access, and basic services creates huge barriers.
✅ Low-income groups – Even when services exist, cost and distance can make them out of reach.
✅ People with low literacy or limited digital skills – Complex language and digital-only information leave them excluded.

👉 The truth is: Accessibility benefits everyone. Because at some point in life, most of us will experience some form of limitation — whether temporary or permanent.
Let’s build a more inclusive world that works for all of us! 💙

Did you know? 🚍

Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act requires public transport to provide reasonable accommodation and reserve at least two seats for persons with disabilities. Inclusion is not charity it’s a right.

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐘

Youth in Action for Disability Inclusion in Zambia joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Youth Day under the theme: ARISE AND SOAR.
The theme is a rallying call for Zambian youth to rise with strength, purpose, and vision, pushing boundaries and driving the nation’s progress. It urges young people to dream boldly and act decisively in shaping an inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future.
The theme emphasizes empowerment by unlocking youth potential through education, skills, and innovation; resilience by overcoming social, economic, and environmental challenges with determination; innovation and creativity by pioneering solutions to national development needs; unity and leadership by fostering peace, cohesion, and forward-looking leadership; and a global vision that positions Zambian youth as contributors locally, regionally, and internationally.

YOUTH IN ACTION FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION reiterate its call on the government to expedite the process of ratifying the African Disability protocol, which unequivocally mandate state parties to provide incentives that directly promote economic empowerment of youths with disabilities.
Ratifying the ADP will ensure that youths with disabilities can meaningfully participate equally and contribute to the creation of the much needed solutions that foster the economic development of Zambia.

By
YADIZ Management

Hashtags:
🇿🇲✨

🇿🇲 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐚𝐫: 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬! ✨

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚! 🇿🇲

Today, Thursday, 12th March 2026, we proudly celebrate Youth Day under the powerful national theme “Arise and Soar.” This theme reminds young people across the country to rise above challenges, embrace innovation, step into leadership, and become the driving force behind Zambia’s progress and an inclusive future. 🚀

At Youth in Action for Disability Inclusion Zambia (YADIZ), we join the nation in celebrating the strength, resilience, and potential of young people — especially young persons with disabilities. ♿💙 This year also marks an important milestone for us as we reflect on six years of youth-led advocacy and action advancing disability rights and inclusion.

What began as a passionate youth movement working closely with support groups grew into a formally registered organization in 2020. Since then, we have continued to grow through partnerships, collaboration, and a shared vision of building an inclusive Zambia where no young person is left behind.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners and collaborators who have walked this journey with us:

• Cheshire Homes – for supporting the Y𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋-19 𝘰𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 (2020). Special appreciation goes to Director Mr. Kamima Ng'uni , whose leadership and encouragement supported us even before we became a formally registered organization. Through his support, many young people with disabilities were empowered and these initiatives became possible. 🙏✨

• Consortium on the COVID-19 Response Project (2021–2022) – implemented with partners and funded by Christian Blind Mission (CBM), reaching and impacting over 1,500 persons with disabilities. 🤝

• Enhancing Youth Entrepreneurship and Employability Project (2022–2023) – implemented in partnership with VSO ( Voluntary Service Overseas), strengthening entrepreneurship and employability skills for over 1,500 young people with and without disabilities. 💼📈

• Inclusive-Led Prevention Initiative (2023–2024) – supported by PEPFAR, improving access to HIV prevention and health services for over 600 youths with disabilities. 🩺❤️

• Disability Rights Watch - DRW our partner on the Inclusive Health and Information Project, promoting access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services for over 2,000 young persons with disabilities. 🌍

• Zambia Federation of Disability Organisations - ZAFOD , Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), fellow civil society partners, and government institutions who have continued to support and believe in our work. 🙌

Through these partnerships, we have been able to reach, empower, and support thousands of young people with disabilities, strengthening their voices and participation in community development. 💙

📢 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹.

𝙄𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 Sightsavers 𝙕𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖, 𝙔𝘼𝘿𝙄𝙕 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝘼𝘿-𝙋 (𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙡) 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝘿𝙋..

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa, adopted by the African Union in 2018, is a historic instrument addressing the unique barriers faced by persons with disabilities across the continent.

It promotes non-discrimination, accessibility, equality, and full participation in education, health, employment, and community life. ♿

The Protocol entered into force in 2024 after 15 African countries ratified it, including Kenya, where progress is already being made in strengthening inclusive policies and protection for persons with disabilities.

However, Zambia has not yet ratified this vital instrument.

Ratifying the African Disability Protocol would align Zambia with continental commitments and accelerate progress toward a truly inclusive society where persons with disabilities fully enjoy their rights and opportunities.

Young people especially youth with disabilities have the power to lead this change. 💪🔥

On this Youth Day, we encourage all young Zambians to rise, speak out, and advocate for equality and inclusion in every sector education, employment, health, leadership, and community life.

✨ 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚉𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍.

𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚉𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚊𝚗! 🇿🇲
! 🇿🇲







🇿🇲 ♥

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:

𝐀𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 “𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬,” 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 (𝐘𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐙) 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞.

𝐖𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲.

𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥, 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚.

𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. 💙✨

#𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐃𝐚𝐲 #𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 #𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐀𝐃𝐏 #𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥 #𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐀𝐥𝐥 #𝐘𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐙 #𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

YADIZ, WE HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO REVIEW GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM(GRM).
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‎10th December, 2025
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‎The Ministry of Health (MOH) has embarked on the process of reviewing, and strengthening the existing grievance redress mechanism.
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‎Speaking in Kabwe , Central Province during the inaugural session of the review meeting with the stakeholders, Provincial Health Director Elijah Mutoloki says the mechanism is targeted at strengthening avenues and channels for conflict resolution.
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‎In a speech read on his behalf by Provincial Public Health Specialist Isaac Banda , Dr Mutoloki explains that the Ministry will ensure that the document meets all the legal provisions.
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‎He said the last developed robust grievance redress mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic was not fully rolled out.
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‎Mr Ian Banda Director, YADIZ has emphasized that the project marks the beginning of a renewed chapter in Zambia’s health governance landscape where persons with disabilities must be included, and the document to disability inclusive and address disability measures in addressing grievances in health services.
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‎Dr Mutoloki has further noted that the document will significantly contribute to a more resilient, responsive, and accountable inclusive health system.
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‎He said the mechanism also aligns with the requirements of the World Bank supported Zambia health emergency preparedness, response and resilience project under the broader multiphased approach framework for Eastern and Southern Africa.
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‎And MOH Assistant Director for Health Promotion and Community Kalangwa Kalangwa , has described the mechanism as very progressive to the health sector.
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‎Meanwhile, MOH Chief Health Promotion Officer, Constance Musenge says once the national document currently under review is fully updated and standardized will enable the speedy resolution of conflicts among the affected parties.

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YADIZ PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL IDPD EVENT IN MANSA – AMPLIFYING THE CALL FOR RATIFICATION OF THE AFRICAN DISABILITY PROTOCOL (ADP)

This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) — observed globally on 3 December — was celebrated under the theme “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.”

YADIZ proudly participated in the national commemoration held in Mansa. Our core focus was to raise awareness about the African Disability Protocol (ADP)—a vital human rights instrument designed to protect and promote the dignity, inclusion, and equality of persons with disabilities within an African context. This engagement was supported by Sightsavers under the Realisation of the ADP Project.

In addition to the main event, YADIZ also featured on a local radio programme, using the platform to further raise awareness on the ADP, explain its importance, and call for Zambia to take the next step towards ratification. The radio discussion helped reach wider communities, including those in rural areas who often have limited access to information.

During the official ceremony, the Honourable Doreen Mwamba, Minister of Community Development and Social Services, delivered a powerful message. She highlighted Zambia’s latest disability policy frameworks, namely:

The 2025 National Disability Policy, approved by Cabinet on 11 February 2025 and launched in May 2025;

The National Disability Mainstreaming Guidelines, launched alongside the Policy; and

The Implementation Plan for the 2025 National Disability Policy, which provides a roadmap for translating commitments into action.

The Minister emphasized the need for these frameworks to bring real, practical change in communities—ensuring access, inclusion, and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across all sectors.

As YADIZ, we echoed the urgent need for Zambia to match policy commitments with measurable action, including the crucial step of ratifying and domesticating the ADP. Many persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in health services, education, social protection, employment, and economic participation. Strengthening institutions such as the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) and ensuring decentralised, accessible services remains key.

We further highlighted the importance of:

Accessible public services and infrastructure, including schools, clinics, transport, and digital systems.

Inclusive education with trained teachers, accessible learning materials, and early support services.

Social protection systems that respond to disability-related costs and foster inclusive employment.

Leadership and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities—especially women and youth—in planning, budgeting, and decision-making processes.

YADIZ remains committed to working collaboratively with government, OPDs, development partners, and the private sector to advance disability inclusion and ensure that no one is left behind.

Together, let us build a Zambia where policy commitments become action — and action becomes lasting transformation.

Ian Banda Writes...

TUNE IN AS WE DISCUSS THE PREPARATION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE 16 DAYS OF SGBV ACTIVISM...