July 2005 was an exciting time for women with disabilities in Africa. It was during this time that 44 women with disabilities from 17 countries in Africa came together in Saly, Senegal with the aim to highlight the fact that women with disabilities are among the most marginalized in society on the African continent and are being relegated to the status of second-class citizens. This meeting also initiated the formation of a Network of Women with disabilities as the body entrusted to ensure that women with disabilities across the African continent benefit from and secure all rights that improve their lives.

The ladies at the Saly meeting are prominent representatives of continental, regional, national and grassroots disabled people’s organisations, national decade steering committees and the Danish Council of Disability Organisations.

The Saly gathering resulted in the establishment of an African Network of Women with disabilities whose work and agenda is driven and guided by an Interim Steering Committee composed of regional representatives with the Secretariat of the African Decade being the interim coordinating body.

Since the establishment of the network, 6 of its interim steering committee members have met to develop steering tools including a constitution, strategic objectives and a mission statement. This meeting was also the baptism of the network, now called the Network of African Women with Disabilities (NAWWD).

Unfortunately, the work of the network has been slow and cumbersome as a result of a weak membership structure and steering group.

All of us who have been involved see the network as a crucial forum where women with disabilities work together to ensure that issues specific to them are recognised and considered. However, without a stronger and more vibrant membership and leadership, the NAWWD will not be able to empower women with disabilities to exercise their rights and positively influence their life situation.

We are therefore looking to grow the membership of the network to ensure we have a vibrant pressure group that will ensure that women with disabilities and their issues are recognised at a policy and programme level.  If you would like to have more information about the NAWWD or how to become a member please do not hesitate to contact a member of the interim steering group in your region:

North Africa: Rokhaya Diagana: rdiagana2003@yahoo.fr

West Africa: Djikine Hatouma Gakou: ghatouma@yahoo.fr

East Africa: Veronica Njuhi: veronjuhi@yahoo.com

Central Africa: Ernestine Ngo Melha: melhaernestine@yahoo.fr

Southern Africa: Sebenzile Matsebula: sebenzilem@aaccess.co.za or Rosewetter Alice Mudarikwa: rosewetermunatsi@yahoo.co.uk

The mission of the NAWWD is to ensure African women with disabilities are empowered to exercise their rights and positively influence their life situation. This will be attained through capacity building, effective communication and networking, promoting mainstreaming and participation of women with disabilities in socio-economic, political and cultural spheres; advocating for inclusion of issues of concern to women with disabilities in Africa and advice on policy and legislation.

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This article was published in Human Rights Africa number 2, 2007.