Gvt should use USF funds to improve access to ICTs for persons with disabilities: SHT urges
Signs of Hope Trust, Zimbabwe says government should use the Universal Services Fund to improve access to ICTs by persons with disabilities and strengthening of legislation to ensure web accessibility.
In a press statement to celebrate the International Day for Universal Access to Information 2023, the trust said high cost of data and lack of requisite tools impede persons with disabiities from accessing information on the web.
“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.
“On this day, we challenge the government of Zimbabwe to commit to bridging the digital divide, by among other things, using the Universal Services Fund to improve access to ICTs by persons with disabilities and strengthening legislation to ensure web accessibility.
“Access to Information is a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 21 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), among other things, encourages state parties to ensure that persons with disabilities (PWDs) 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,” read part of the statement.
The trust commended 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.
“We reaffirm our commitment to advocating for the right to access to information to be upheld and to sharing credible, accessible information, that will empower persons with disabilities and their organizations,”read the statement.