Govt urged to strengthen disability rights protection, promote employment inclusion
The Malawi Government has been urged to strengthen the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and promote greater inclusion in employment to address persistent challenges affecting the community.
The call was made by the Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (FEDOMA) during consultations on the implementation of recommendations under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), where the organization advocated for the inclusion of disability concerns in the government’s national implementation plan.
FEDOMA Chairperson Mapopa Mgombera Shaba said persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination and violations of their rights, with persons with albinism remaining particularly vulnerable to abductions, killings and other forms of abuse.
“As FEDOMA, we are not impressed with the way things are moving regarding the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities. There have been many cases where persons with albinism have been abducted and killed. While some suspects have been arrested, we are often left in the dark about how such cases end,” he said.
Shaba urged the government to introduce stronger punitive measures against perpetrators of violence targeting persons with disabilities, saying such violations should be brought to an end once and for all.
He also expressed concern over the low number of persons with disabilities employed in both public and private institutions despite many possessing the required qualifications.
“When you go to both private and government institutions and departments, you will agree with me that not many people with disabilities are employed regardless of the relevant qualifications they may have,” he said.
According to Shaba, deliberate employment quotas should be considered to increase representation of persons with disabilities while ensuring recruitment remains based on merit and qualifications.
He said greater inclusion in employment and stronger protection of rights are essential to enabling persons with disabilities to fully participate in Malawi’s social and economic development.
Concurrently, Elizabeth Machinjiri, a person with albinism, said she expects to see greater progress in the protection of the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities, noting that many continue to face barriers despite existing legal and policy frameworks.
Machinjiri urged the government to review disability-related policies and guidelines and ensure their effective implementation, which she said remains a major challenge.
“Government should review the disability policies and guidelines and ensure their implementation. We have noted that in many cases these provisions exist only on paper. For example, when it comes to education, there have to be inclusion of children with disabilities, but that is contrary to what is happening on the ground,” she said.
Machinjiri emphasized that stronger implementation and monitoring mechanisms are needed to ensure that persons with disabilities fully enjoy their rights and access opportunities on an equal basis with others.
