Disability Rights Watch - DRW

Disability Rights Watch - DRW A coordinated regional structure to Advance Disability Equality through Strategic Litigation and Prom

Disability Rights Watch (DRW )is a regional programme of intervention with practical objective to build the capacity of civil society in southern Africa to independently promote, protect and monitor the domestication of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). DRW will broker knowledge and share/replicate an innovative model developed in Zambia with successes across casework and litigation and with a domestication monitoring function to advance and promote the rights of persons with disabilities across Africa. One of the key issues that DRW seeks to address throughout all its work will be the progressive move for the adoption, signing, ratification, government reporting and shadow reporting and domestication of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

22/12/2025

Wrapping up 2025,
We are grateful for your support.
Demo Finland Zambia National Women's Lobby - ZNWL ZANIS Camnet TV
The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
Diamond TV Online Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Zambia Millennium TV Zambia Capital FM 99.7 Norwegian Association of Disabled-NAD Zambia fans ActionAid and many others

Disability Rights Watch (DRW), in partnership with the Zambia National Women's Lobby - ZNWL and with support from Demo F...
19/12/2025

Disability Rights Watch (DRW), in partnership with the Zambia National Women's Lobby - ZNWL and with support from Demo Finland, yesterday (18/12/25) convened a semi-annual meeting of the Persons with Disabilities Political Dialogue Network (PPDN) in Lusaka under the Disability Inclusive Political Participation Project.

The meeting brought together PPDN members to reflect on the year 2025, assess progress made, and identify key priorities as the network plans for 2026. Members held constructive deliberations on achievements, challenges, and strategic directions aimed at strengthening the political participation of persons with disabilities.

Key achievements highlighted included increased awareness on disability rights, meaningful engagement with key stakeholders, and submissions to legal and policy reform processes to advance disability inclusion.

DRW remains committed to working with partners and stakeholders to promote inclusive governance and ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are meaningfully represented in Zambia’s political and decision-making spaces.


15/12/2025

Disability Inclusive political participation.
Demo Finland
Zambia National Women's Lobby - ZNWL

10/12/2025

Historic Milestone for Disability Inclusion in Zambia
Today marks an important achievement for disability rights in our country. Disability Rights Watch, under the Collective Action for Disability Rights (CADIR) programme, successfully advocated for the strengthening and protection of persons with albinism to be presented and adopted in Parliament.
This development represents a significant step forward in safeguarding the rights, dignity, and security of persons with albinism. It is also a historic moment as persons with disabilities were able to stand in Parliament, represent themselves, and have their voices genuinely heard.
This milestone reaffirms our collective commitment to building an inclusive Zambia where every person’s rights are protected and respected.

📢 Strengthening Inclusive Education & Child Safeguarding in ChadizaDisability Rights Watch (DRW), under the Collective A...
10/12/2025

📢 Strengthening Inclusive Education & Child Safeguarding in Chadiza
Disability Rights Watch (DRW), under the Collective Action for Disability Rights (CADIR) programme and with support from NAD, successfully conducted a two-day workshop on Inclusive Education and Child Safeguarding Principles and Practice with teachers at Sankhani Lodge, Chadiza, from 9–10 December 2025.
The workshop brought together primary school teachers and guidance teachers to build their capacity in:
1.Understanding inclusive education and the rights of learners with disabilities
2.Developing Individualised Education Plans (IEPs)
3.Addressing barriers within school environments
4.Strengthening child safeguarding systems that are inclusive of children with disabilities
Through interactive presentations, group work, and scenario-based learning, participants explored practical strategies to ensure presence, participation and achievement for every learner.
DRW remains committed to promoting a safe, inclusive, and empowering education system for all children.

09/12/2025

CHADIZA DEBS OPENS INCLUSIVE EDUCATION WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS

08/12/2025

Official Opening of the third training of aspiring candidates in Mansa.
Officially opened by Mrs Mbulo ZNWL District Chairperson.

07/12/2025

Credit: ZANIS
Demo Finland Zambia National Women's Lobby - ZNWL

ASPIRING CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES TRAINED FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN MANSADisability Rights Watch, in partnershi...
04/12/2025

ASPIRING CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES TRAINED FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN MANSA

Disability Rights Watch, in partnership with the Zambia National Women's Lobby - ZNWL and with support from Demo Finland , is conducting a two-day training for aspiring candidates with disabilities in Mansa District, Luapula Province.

This training—being the second in a series of three—aims to enhance the capacity of persons with disabilities to effectively participate in political processes. Participants are building skills to overcome campaign barriers, strengthen their visibility, and strategically position themselves ahead of the 2026 General Elections.

DRW remains committed to promoting disability-inclusive governance and ensuring that persons with disabilities are empowered to take up leadership roles and contribute meaningfully to Zambia’s democratic processes.


Disability Rights Watch (DRW) proudly joined the nation in commemorating the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disa...
03/12/2025

Disability Rights Watch (DRW) proudly joined the nation in commemorating the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), marked under the global theme: “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.” This year, DRW participated in events across three provinces—Southern, Western, and Luapula—reflecting our strong commitment to advancing the rights, dignity, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

In Sinazongwe District of Southern Province, DRW was represented by the Executive Director and the CADiR Project Officer. Supported under the Collective Action for Disability Rights (CADiR) Programme, this event was particularly historic as it marked the district’s first-ever IDPD commemoration. It was inspiring to witness the remarkable community turnout and the growing commitment toward embracing disability inclusion.

In Sioma District of Western Province, DRW was represented by the Programmes Coordinator under the Climate Just Communities Project, joining local stakeholders in promoting disability-responsive climate and community development efforts.

Meanwhile, in Mansa District of Luapula Province, where the national event was hosted, DRW was represented by the DIPP Project Officer under the Disability Inclusive Political Participation (DIPP) Project, reaffirming our commitment to strengthening inclusive governance and political participation.

Across all three provinces, DRW remains steadfast in promoting the rights, participation, and full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life.

Together, we continue fostering a more inclusive Zambia for all.
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03/12/2025

International Day for Persons with Disabilities
3 December 2025

A CALL TO AN AMBITIOUS DISABILITY INCLUSION DRIVE

Disability Rights Watch and the disability community in Zambia joins the global community in commemorating the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) under the theme " Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress "
We invite all persons with disabilities and their families, community members, civic and traditional leaders to join commemorations of this important day and celebrate human diversity and unite for an inclusive Zambia.

This year’s theme places social inclusion and leadership at the centre of national development and underscores the agency of persons with disabilities as rights holders who have the potential to contribute to development and make independent choices.

DRW acknowledges progress made in awareness raising, policy and legal reforms and service delivery. We call on the government to raise its level of ambition on the disability agenda as rhetoric must be matched with measurable action. To ensure accountability, we urge the Government to publish an annual disability-inclusion progress report that includes disaggregated targets and timelines.

Persons with disabilities continue to face challenges in accessing social services and economic empowerment opportunities. Government in the spirit of leaving no one behind needs to raise its level of ambition around disability issues and increase funding to the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities to at least K80 million by 2030. This can enable the agency to decentralize its services by opening district offices.

DRW stands ready to partner with government, OPDs, development partners and the private sector to translate these priorities into practical programmes.

The country needs to prioritise accessible public services and infrastructure.
Ensure that health facilities, schools, social protection registration centres and public transport are physically, communicationally and digitally accessible. Reasonable accommodation must be budgeted for and monitored.
Government should guarantee inclusive education and early support.

Invest in teacher training, accessible learning materials, and early identification/ support services so children with disabilities are not left behind in mainstream schools.

There is need to mainstream disability in social protection and economic inclusion and strengthen social protection programmes so they respond to disability-specific costs, and promote inclusive employment measures.

Ensure accessible digital services and information. As Zambia modernises digitally, all public-facing platforms and government services must meet accessibility standards so persons with disabilities can access healthcare, education, voting information and social safety nets.

There is need to promote leadership and meaningful participation in all aspects of life such that persons with disabilities must be meaningfully represented in national planning, budgets and decision-making at all levels. Leadership pathways for women and youth with disabilities require particular attention.

Bruce Chooma
SIGNED
Programmes Coordinator

03/12/2025

IDPD25 commemoration in Mansa

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