Disability Rights Watch - DRW

[Picture Description] Disability Rights Watch awareness campaign promoting the rights, dignity and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Zambia. It features a smiling Zambian man using a wheelchair alongside the DRW logo and the main message, “Respect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities.” The poster highlights five key principles—equal rights, inclusion, respect, accessibility and participation—and calls on society to remove barriers, treat everyone with dignity, and ensure persons with disabilities are heard and included. The message is reinforced by the slogan “Together for a More Inclusive Zambia” and the call to “Advocate, Include, Respect, Empower.”

STRENGTHENING DISABILITY INCLUSION IN ZAMBIA’S PARLIAMENT
Disability Rights Watch (DRW), in collaboration with the National Assembly of Zambia, concluded a three-day capacity-building training for members of the Research Department from 9-11 September 2026 at Twangale Park. The training strengthened participants’ understanding of disability rights, substantive equality, inclusive communication, accessibility, reasonable accommodation and universal design, with a focus on ensuring that parliamentary research and support services are accessible and responsive to persons with disabilities.
A key outcome was the identification of environmental, attitudinal, institutional, communication and procedural barriers that may affect the participation of persons with disabilities in Parliament. Discussions highlighted issues such as accessibility of elevators and the Chamber, parking, toilets, ramps, information and digital resources, as well as the need for accessible documents, sign-language interpretation, personal assistance and appropriate reasonable accommodation. Participants also embraced the “disability mirror” approach—ensuring that every research assignment, policy issue, piece of legislation, parliamentary motion or debate considers its potential impact on persons with disabilities.
The closing session emphasised that disability inclusion should not be treated as an add-on, but as part of how Parliament works. Key follow-up priorities include finalising the departmental recommendations and action plan, integrating disability inclusion into the 2027–2031 National Assembly Strategic Plan, including disability-inclusion orientation for incoming Members of Parliament and new presiding officers, extending capacity building to other parliamentary departments, strengthening collaboration with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and advancing discussions on a DRW–National Assembly partnership/MoU. The overall message was clear: meaningful representation must translate into meaningful participation, influence and accessible parliamentary processes—leaving no one behind.

The training was conducted under the Collective Action for Disability Rights supported by Norwegian Association of Disabled-NAD Zambia

BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE PARLIAMENT | CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Disability Rights Watch (DRW) has today officially commenced a three-day Capacity Building Training on Disability Inclusion for the Research Department of the National Assembly of Zambia, taking place from 9–11 September 2026 at Twangale Park, Chilanga.
The training brings together 20 members of the Research Department and seeks to strengthen their knowledge, practical skills and capacity to mainstream disability inclusion in parliamentary research, policy and legislative analysis, as well as provide accessible and disability-responsive technical support to Members of Parliament with disabilities.
The training is being implemented by Disability Rights Watch with support from the Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD) under the Collective Action for Disability Rights (CADIR) programme. The initiative builds on the continued collaboration between DRW, the National Assembly of Zambia, the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability Inclusion and Rights, NAD and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in advancing inclusive governance and disability rights.
The official opening featured remarks from:
🔹 Mr. Wamundila Waliuya, Director, Disability Rights Watch, who delivered the welcoming remarks and highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to ensure disability inclusion becomes part of the everyday work of Parliament.
🔹 Ms. Caroline Cheelo, Country Director, Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD) Zambia, who emphasised that the training is more than a capacity-building activity—it is an investment in a stronger, more inclusive and representative Parliament. She noted that the historic introduction of five reserved seats for Persons with Disabilities in the 14th National Assembly must be matched with systems, procedures, information, communication and support services that enable Members with disabilities to participate fully and independently.
Ms. Cheelo further called for a shift from inclusion as an aspiration to inclusion as a lived reality, with accessibility, equality and reasonable accommodation embedded within parliamentary systems and practices.
🔹 Mr. Sage Samuwika, Deputy Clerk – Administration, National Assembly of Zambia, delivered the opening speech on behalf of Mrs. Loveness M. Mayaka, Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia. The speech underscored the strategic role of the Research Department in ensuring that parliamentary research, analysis, briefs and information products are accessible, inclusive and disability responsive.
The training comes at a significant moment for Zambia's democracy following the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, which introduced a mixed-member proportional representation system and provides for five reserved seats for Persons with Disabilities in the 14th National Assembly.
For DRW and its partners, representation is only the beginning. An inclusive Parliament must also be accessible, responsive and equipped to ensure that Members with disabilities can effectively perform their legislative, oversight, representative and policy-making responsibilities.
Over the three days, participants will explore disability rights and the human rights approach to disability, equality and non-discrimination, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, inclusive communication, disability-inclusive research and policy analysis, and practical actions for strengthening disability inclusion within Parliament.
This initiative reflects our shared commitment to building a Parliament that does not merely welcome diversity, but genuinely values it; and does not simply accommodate difference, but removes the barriers that prevent meaningful participation.
Together, we are working towards an accessible, inclusive and disability-responsive National Assembly where everyone can participate, contribute and serve the people of Zambia without unnecessary barriers.

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