DISABILITY RIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY POST-2012

Abstract

The development of disability rights saw a spate of growth in the period preceding 2013 both internationally and in the East African region. During this period, most East African Community (EAC) partner states ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)1 as well as took steps to enact or review domestic legislation in the area of disability. At the East African regional level, several instruments were concluded for the empowerment of persons with disabilities as well as the advancement of their rights. However, there appears to have been a slowing down of this initial momentum, as will be shown below2. As an organising bloc, the EAC has various mandates. Although the Community is premised on the economic co-operation of partner states parties, a number of areas of co-operation are spelt out in both its Establishing Treaty and the Protocol.3 For example, under the Protocol, while partner states have the broad mandate to harmonise social policies, they are specifically obligated to, among others, harmonise their social policies relating to good governance, the rule of law and social justice; promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights; promotion of equal opportunities and gender equality; promotion and protection of the rights of marginalised and vulnerable groups.4