Hon. Naddy Zialor participates in Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Conference, a first for the National Assembly   |01 December 2022

Group photo of the delegates at the conference

Hon. Naddy Zialor attended the 2nd Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Conference (CPwD) in Tanzania, a first for the National Assembly.

The conference took place from November 14-18, 2022 and was hosted by the Tanzania Branch of the Commonwealth Association for the Africa Region under the theme ‘Parliamentarians and Parliamentarians with Disabilities as Champions of Inclusions and Accessibility to public and private sectors’.

The CPwD was inaugurated in October 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya and it was resolved that parliamentarians with disabilities should meet once a year to share ideas and best practices on issues of persons living with a disability.

At the conference in Dar es salaam, the session was officially opened by H.E Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, Hon. Mussa Azan Zungu in the presence of H.E Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office for Labour, Youth, Employment & Persons with Disabilities, Joyce Ndalichako.

During the four-day conference six topics were deliberated on as issues related to disabilities such as; A review of the educational system for persons living with disabilities of which a case study of Tanzania was presented;  Increasing persons with disabilities’ representation in parliaments; Legal and constitutional amendments; Promoting economic empowerment and entrepreneurship to advance the participation of persons living with disabilities in labour market; The role of parliaments in facilitating the needs of persons with disabilities; Empowering persons with disabilities through ICT; Challenges and opportunities; and sexual and reproductive health rights for women with disabilities.

Hon. Zialor not only participated in six sessions but also chaired a meeting on Topic Six which concerned sexual and reproductive health rights for women with disabilities.

Throughout the sessions Hon. Zialor made several interventions on the different topics discussed, of which it was noted that the Seychelles branch was represented for the 1st time on the platform.

Hon. Zialor pointed out the different challenges faced in the different matters and also several opportunities and work undergoing in ensuring that different issues are being addressed. 

Hon. Zialor further highlighted that the education system of Seychelles is promoting inclusivity and mainstreaming, although there are challenges that the stakeholders are facing.

He further stated that there are ongoing amendments in the laws of Seychelles to ensure inclusivity notably the Statute Law Revision, Physical Planning bill, amendments in the Seychelles Constitution among others.

Press release from the National Assembly secretariat