Botswana among AU disability architecture pioneers: official

GABORONE, FEB 7 — Botswana, Namibia, Guinea Conakry and Senegal are spearheading the African Union Disability Architecture, said a Botswana government official on Wednesday.
Boikhutso Botlhole, acting permanent secretary for the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, said this while addressing a three-day training program on disability mainstreaming for senior government officials organized by the African Union in capital Gaborone on Wednesday.
Botlhole said the main objective of the African Union Disability Architecture is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in AU member states’ national development agenda.
The training program will provide participants with information regarding disability rights and offer them guidance to mainstream disability at national level with a view to achieving disability inclusive development, said Botlhole.
Botlhole said Botswana is at an advanced stage to ratify the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (PWD), which was first opened for signing in 2008.
Botlhole indicated that the African Union Disability Architecture is a brain child whose main objective is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in national development agenda.
She said four countries, namely Botswana, Namibia, Senegal and Guinea Conakry are the pioneers of this important initiative.
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), “Disability Inclusive Development means that all processes of development are inclusive and are accessible to people with disabilities.”
Botlhole said it advocates that all persons be accorded equal access to education, health care services, work and employment and social protection, among others. – XINHUA