Draft ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy (2018) v1 post Burkina Faso and Gambia Workshops
adaptation or specialized design. “Universal design” shall not exclude assistive devices
for particular groups of PwD where this is needed.4
2. INTRODUCTION
Approximately fifteen percent (15%) of the world’s population lives with a disability.5 This
represents about one (1) billion people globally, and over thirty (35) million people in the
West African States. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as
mobile phones, public phones or the Internet, along with broadcasting services expand
access to information, knowledge, and key public services, thereby promoting digital
inclusion. ICT’s and broadcasting services have potential to address barriers that PwD
face. Throughout the world, persons living with disabilities are already benefiting from
the advantages of ICT-enabled applications in many ways to enable them to
communicate effectively and share and receive information - this facilitates their
meaningful participation in society. Thus, ECOWAS, in keeping with it´s Vision 2020,
aimed at setting a clear direction and goal to significantly raise the standard of living of
people through conscious and inclusive programmes, need to develop and implement
policies, strategies and programmes for realizing universal access to ICT services,
particularly by PwD (PWD). These policies will be in line with ECOWAS fundamental
principles of inter-state cooperation, harmonization of policies and integration
programmes and accountability economic and social justice and popular participation in
development.
A person's ability to use technology may be impaired due to various physical, sensory,
emotional or cognitive disabilities. e-Accessibility or ICT Accessibility recognizes this and
seeks to make ICT products and services available to all users, taking into account
their differing capabilities.
3. LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
3.1 International
At an international level, a number of policy and legislative instruments contain key
provisions that support the stated goal of this ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy which is
making ICT accessible for PwD.
This policy is consistent with the following international Instruments for promotion of
human rights and these are;
(a) United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
(b) International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)
4 As defined in Article 2, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
5 World
Report on Disability 2011 (World Health Organisation)
5