Delegates to the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) underway in Cape Town on Tuesday called for stronger legal measures to protect the rights and participation of people with disabilities, emphasising the need for inclusive laws, effective implementation and meaningful representation, writes Jabulani Majozi.
This call was made during a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network held on the sidelines of the CPC. The network works within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with disabilities to participate effectively in their roles.
Held under the theme, “Legislating for the Rights of People with Disabilities”, the session at Cape Town City Hall explored how lawmakers can promote equality through lawmaking, committee work, oversight and representation. Delegates highlighted the value of lived experiences in shaping policies and laws to respond to the experiences of people with disabilities. They also shared experiences from their respective parliaments on how they were improving accessibility and supporting members and staff with disabilities.
Chairing the session, Dr Marlene Le Roux, a disability and women’s rights activist, said disability can affect anyone and should therefore be regarded as a matter that concerns society as a whole. “Disability does not ask permission to arrive in a family, a workplace or a Parliament. It can arrive at anybody’s door, and when it does, it touches everyone and every aspect of their life.”
Dr Le Roux said the discussion was particularly relevant to South Africa. “For South Africa, this conversation is not an academic exercise. It is urgent. Our country is, at this very moment, consulting on a Disability Rights Bill. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move beyond the language of charity and welfare and to enshrine disability rights,” she said.
To turn disability inclusion from policy into action, the government is finalising an overarching Disability Rights Bill to consolidate protections into a single, comprehensive law aligned with the Constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Dr Le Roux called for greater cooperation among Commonwealth legislatures to strengthen protection and access, noting that countries have different legal frameworks and approaches to promoting equality for persons with disabilities. Dr Le Roux urged delegates to consider how parliaments can support rights-based laws through consultation and oversight. She also encouraged members to compare approaches across the Commonwealth and learn from successful practices.
She cautioned that policies promoting equal participation would have limited impact without adequate funding and effective implementation. “Inclusion without budgets means nothing,” Dr Le Roux said, highlighting the importance of political will, cooperation and informed decision-making.
The CPwD network encourages Parliamentarians to consider the perspectives of people with disabilities across all areas of their work, including law-making, oversight and representation. This approach can help build more accessible and responsive institutions. The network operates within the CPA and represents almost 180 Parliaments and legislatures in 53 of the 56 Commonwealth member countries.
