Draft ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy (2018) v1 post Burkina Faso and Gambia Workshops
(c) United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
(d) Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979)
(e) African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1981)
(f) United Nations Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for PWD (1993)
(g) Continental Plan of Action for PWD in Africa (2002)
(h) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
(i) Windhoek Declaration (2008)
All 15 ECOWAS State Members have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (“UNCRPD”, “the Convention”). The Convention recognizes
accessibility as a condition for PwD to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental
freedoms6 and requires signatories to adopt appropriate measures for access by PwD
on an equal basis with others to information and communication technology, emergency
services and internet services.
3.2 Regional
The ECOWAS supports the right to equality before the law. This includes the full and
equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. It seeks to promote the achievement of
equality through policy, legislative, and other measures that are designed to protect or
advance persons or categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination. In
that light, it fully supports the removal of barriers to access to essential communication
services such as mobile services, public access and access to the internet and the web.
Mainstreaming ICT accessibility is a necessary condition for PwD to fully enjoy their
fundamental rights and freedoms and participate in society on an equal basis with
others.
In pursuit of the objectives stated in Article 3 of the ECOWAS Treaty, solemnly affirm
and declare their adherence to the following principles:
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equality and inter-dependence of Member States;
solidarity and collective self-reliance;
inter-State cooperation, harmonisation of policies and integration of programmes;
non-aggression between Member States;
maintenance of regional peace, stability and security through the promotion and
strengthening of good neighbourliness;
peaceful settlement of disputes among Member States, active Co-operation
between neighbouring countries and promotion of a peaceful environment as a
prerequisite for economic development;
recognition promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in accordance
with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
accountability, economic and social justice and popular participation in
development;
recognition and observance of the rules and principles of the Community;
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Preamble, Section (v)
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