Disability Inclusion Matters

  Abstract The Sustainable Development Goals number 16 target 16.3 (SDG Goal 16.3) aims to achieve equal access to justice for all. Therefore, this article focuses on persons with disabilities (PWDs), by analyzing the international normative frameworks on access to justice for persons with disabilities. It also analyzed the situation of PWDs regarding access to justice, and current practices in some countries concerning access to justice for persons with disabilities. The article likewise concludes with suggestions on the way forward to ensure access to Justice for PWDs. Keywords: Access to Justice, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Introduction The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank Report on Disability (2011), provides a global statistics on disability which indicates that 15% of the world’s population, or more than one billion people in the world today have a disability; and 80% of these people live in developing nations.  Access

Abstract Access to justice for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on an equal basis with others, is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and other legal charters. Therefore, this article analyzed the various barriers faced by PWDs in access to and the administration of justice. The article also analyzed some legal frameworks on access to justice for PWDs like Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Similarly, the article analyzed the roles of legal actors like the police, the prosecutors and lawyers for ensuring access to justice for PWDs. Finally, the article analyzed some international principles and guidelines on access to justice for persons with disabilities . Keywords: Access to Justice, Barriers, Human Rights, Guidelines, Legal Capacity,  Principles, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). 1. Introduction Around 15% of the world’s population, or one billion people, live with some form of disability (WHO and W