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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Ensure
meaningful involvement of people with disabilities in national processes
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
November 27, 2012
On this occasion
of the launch of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR's) Summarised
Analysis of the COPAC Draft Constitution in Braille, ZLHR would
like to call upon government to take meaningful measures aimed at
allowing people with disabilities to fully participate in national
processes such as the ongoing constitutional reform exercise through
increased access to diverse information. The government should be
at the forefront of promoting accessibility for the disabled to
engage, learn, share, and make choices just like the rest of the
commonality of citizens in Zimbabwe.
Today, as part
of its broader mandate of promoting human rights in Zimbabwe, ZLHR
is making available copies of its summarised analysis of the draft
COPAC constitution in Braille to institutions that have learning
and reading centres for visually impaired people countrywide. We
do this to promote equality and access to information for all citizens
of Zimbabwe so as to facilitate their engagement with the key national
process
of constitution making. The analysis provides an overview of
each Chapter of the proposed Constitution together with a commentary
of what is progressive and what issues remain problematic.
As the country
moves towards a possible constitutional referendum, it is necessary
for all Zimbabweans to educate themselves on the content put forward
in order to make their own decision on whether the draft COPAC constitution
is better than the current constitution, whether it requires further
improvement, and whether it benefits the country moving forward.
The first phase
of the initiative will today see copies being given to the following
institutions:
- Harare -
University of
Zimbabwe (Disability Resource Centre)
- Mashonaland
West - Jairos Jiri School for the Blind (Kadoma)
- Manicaland
- Mutare Teachers College (Disability Resource Centre)
- Midlands
- Midlands State University (Disability Resource Centre)
- Bulawayo
- Council for the Blind
- Matebeleland
South - Zimbabwe National League of the Blind
- Matebeleland
North - Council for the Blind
- Masvingo
- Zimbabwe Association of the Visually Handicapped (ZAVH); Copota
Mission
- Mashonaland
Central - St. Philips High School (Guruve)
- Mashonaland
East - Murehwa Mission
We also urge
other civic and community-based organisations to take similar initiatives
in order to improve such access to information for all Zimbabweans
nationwide. Together, we will make a difference to the lives of
our fellow citizens.
Visit the ZLHR
fact
sheet
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