Our participation in the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)


The Network was represented at the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights by two delegates. In this statement, we acknowledge the support we have received from partners to be present in a regional advocacy space. 

 As women with disabilities, we wish to acknowledge the important role played by persons with disabilities and their representative organizations at the grassroots, national, regional, and global levels in amplifying the voices of women with disabilities and ensuring our visibility and recognition. 

Although women with disabilities have increasingly occupied development spaces, they are still far from realizing their full potential and fully enjoying their fundamental rights as provided for in various legal instruments.

To draw attention to these issues during the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities and Women Challenged to Challenge submitted an alternative report to the Commission. The report highlighted five key issues while also recognizing the efforts made by the Government of Kenya in putting in place policies, laws, and programmes aimed at promoting gender equality. These legal frameworks guarantee the right to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), education, access to justice, economic empowerment, decent work, participation, and representation for all. While women in general have access to these opportunities, significant gaps remain for women with disabilities, including the low implementation of existing laws and policies.

We recognize the efforts and advocacy work undertaken by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in achieving the milestones and progress attained by women with disabilities so far. At the national level, United Disabled Persons of Kenya has done tremendous work to ensure that policies and laws are inclusive of all persons with disabilities, especially women and girls with disabilities. At the regional level, the African Disability Forum and Disabled Women in Africa have provided technical support to the Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities and Women Challenged to Challenge, both national women-led OPDs, in developing the alternative report and ensuring the meaningful and full participation of women with disabilities during the 87th Session.

Additionally, the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and Africa Disability Forum (ADF) have continuously provided both technical and financial support to facilitate the participation of women with disabilities not only from Kenya but also from other African countries. Through bilateral meetings, Kenyan delegates, including women with disabilities, had an opportunity to engage with two Commissioners and highlight five key issues ahead of the country review process. This was made possible through facilitation by the African Disability Forum following the Observer Status that was granted last year, 2025. 

Existence of barriers

As women with disabilities, we acknowledge that barriers to participation still occur. One of the delegates experienced significant accessibility challenges while travelling to The Gambia. These challenges included a mechanical problem with the national airline during landing in Côte d’Ivoire; the refusal by the airline in Côte d’Ivoire to handle her wheelchair, being asked to pay for an ambulift service, and prolonged flight delays. There is, therefore, a great need for OPDs in Africa to intensify advocacy efforts to ensure that women with disabilities can effectively engage and participate in decision-making forums without facing such barriers.

We also acknowledge IDA who supported the meaningful participation of our delegate, a Deaf Youth leader to access services of a sign language interpreter. 

On behalf of the two delegates, we thank ADF, IDA and ICJ-Africa for making it possible to have a big delegation to the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)as well as the engagement before and during Kenya's review by the Commission.

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