US Ambassador Mike Gonzales commits to Disability Inclusion in Zambia
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Ambassador Michael C. Gonzales with President Hakainde Sammy Hichilema
US Ambassador Mike Gonzales commits to Disability Inclusion in Zambia
By Bruce Chooma Wednesday, 5th October, 2022
We had the opportunity earlier today (Wednesday, 5th October, 2022) to discuss the human rights situation of persons with disabilities with the new U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, Mike Gonzales at his residence in Lusaka. The roundtable discussion on disability rights and advocacy was a demonstration of the long standing commitment between the United States of America and Zambia to deepen democracy and champion inclusive development.
Ambassador Gonzales is only 20 days in Zambia and has hit the ground running. He used the occasion to unpack his three main priorities for Zambia one of which is fostering an inclusive development agenda where all persons in their diversity can realise their potential and specifically that persons with disabilities must be accorded the opportunity to exercise and enjoy their rights and benefit meaningfully from all development processes.
USA Ambassador to Zambia Michael C Gonzalez with Disability Rights Watch (DRW) Coordinator Bruce Chooma
We used the occasion to highlight the key areas of concern with the quality of our democracy in the context of tolerance, inclusion, participation, non-discrimination and respect for difference.
Disability Rights Watch (DRW) specifically asked the ambassador to use his influence to actualise a disability mainstreaming strategy at the level of the Zambian Cabinet and State House. We also called for institutional reforms to disability institutions like the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), The Trust Fund for Persons with Disabilities and the effective inclusion of persons with disabilities in the decentralisation agenda and across all social protection programmes.
USA Ambassador to Zambia Michael C Gonzalez with Disability Rights Watch (DRW) Coordinator Bruce Chooma
It was our view that the USA needs to use its support to democratic reforms to provide technical and financial capacity to the disability movement to advocate for the constitutional reforms to the electoral system to make it favourable to disadvantaged groups such as persons with disabilities.
As Zambia rolls out its eighth national development plan under the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration, we reminded the ambassador and the diplomatic community of their duty to channel their voice and resources to fostering a culture of transparency and genuine inclusion and to an economic transformation agenda that benefits all.
US Ambassador to Zambia Michael C. Gonzales hosts Disability Inclusion Activists in LUSAKA
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