Disability advocacy group, Signs of Hope Trust, has praised the government for its commitment to upholding the right to access information and urged further action to bridge the digital divide for persons with disabilities.
In a statement to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information the Trust lauded the government’s efforts in upholding the right to access information, as outlined in Sections 61 and 62 of the Zimbabwean constitution.
“We commend the government of Zimbabwe for its commitment to upholding the right to access information (Sections 61 and 62 of the Zimbabwean constitution) by enacting the Freedom of Information Act (2020) which empowers citizens to seek any information from government entities. This year, we join stakeholders in reflecting on the importance of the online space for Access to Information and continue to advocate for stakeholder actions that will improve access to the internet for persons with disabilities,” said the Trust
The group pointed out that despite progress, many challenges hinder persons with disabilities from accessing the Internet on an equal basis with others.
“The high cost of data, lack of tools and technology that supports participation in digital spaces, inaccessible websites, and the underdevelopment of internet infrastructure in the rural areas where 73% of the population of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe is based, are among the myriad of challenges that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing the Internet on an equal basis with others,” said the advocacy group
The Trust called upon the government to commit to bridging the digital divide and urged the allocation of resources from the Universal Services Fund to improve access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for persons with disabilities.
“Access to Information is a fundamental human right, as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” stated the Trust.
They also highlighted Article 21 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which calls on state parties to ensure that persons with disabilities exercise their right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and in a form of communication of their choice.
