On December 3, the world observed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities under the theme, “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.” In Ethiopia, the occasion was marked in Hawassa, the capital of the Sidama Regional State, with a gathering of disability association leaders, partner organizations, and government officials.
The event highlighted the persistent challenges faced by persons with disabilities in the country, as Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Ergoge Tesfaye (PhD), pledged that next year’s commemoration would celebrate the country’s first-ever comprehensive disability legislation. While Ethiopia has ratified international conventions on disability rights, its legal framework remains fragmented, with no unified law addressing the multifaceted issues facing the community.
A Step Toward Comprehensive Legislation
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Aberra Retta, president of the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind, revealed that a draft disability law has recently undergone review by the Ministry of Justice and been submitted to the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs. After further recommendations, the draft will be presented to the Council of Ministers before its final approval by the House of People’s Representatives.
While existing laws—such as the Right to Employment of Persons with Disability, the National Plan of Action on Disability, and the Building Proclamation—touch on disability rights, they are seen as inadequate. “Patchy and fragmented as they are, these legislations have never been able to address the numerous challenges faced by citizens with disabilities,” said Aberra.
Though cautiously optimistic, Aberra expressed reservations about the government’s commitment, citing a historical reluctance to acknowledge or meet the demands of persons with disabilities. “Experience has shown us that the government has resisted binding disability provisions in the past,” he noted.
The draft legislation includes several promising provisions aimed at improving infrastructure accessibility for persons with disabilities. If approved, he says, it could lead to more inclusive facilities and greater mobility for the disabled community. “What we’ve often heard from the government is that international conventions incorporated into our constitution are sufficient,” Aberra explained.
Access to roads, buildings, and public spaces is critical to enabling persons with disabilities to participate fully in political, social, and economic life. “Ensuring accessibility is the only way to achieve full respect for the rights of persons with disabilities,” Aberra emphasized.
Accessibility and Barriers to Mobility: A Daily Struggle for Persons with Disabilities
Glaring issues can be easily highlighted in Addis Ababa: the city’s walkways, particularly the Yellow Line paths intended to aid movement for blind individuals and those with impaired vision, are fraught with danger.
These pathways, designed for accessibility, are instead riddled with manholes, ditches, and drainage structures. Concrete covers on sewer holes along the Yellow Lines are often misaligned, partially closed, or precariously wobbly. Trees and poles frequently obstruct the paths, creating additional hazards. “It’s as if the Yellow Line is chosen for such disruptive and dangerous structures,” said a member of the disabled community, reflecting widespread frustration.
Buildings fare no better in accessibility. Most lack ramps, and the few that do have slopes so steep they are challenging even for able-bodied individuals. Signs and symbols essential for navigation are almost non-existent. Elevators frequently break down due to erratic electricity supply or technical failures, and escalators, considered a luxury, are found in only a handful of buildings and malls.
“Coupled with open trading along pedestrian paths and the Yellow Line, persons with disabilities—especially the blind—face constant threats,” one interviewee said. “Going out every day fills us with fear. We live in a state of constant tension, unsure of what will befall us on the streets.”
Shewangizaw Debebe, Oromia regional state representative to the Ethiopian Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities (EAPPD) and an executive board member of the association, paints an equally grim picture. He explained that many disabled individuals in Oromia cannot afford basic mobility aids such as crutches or wheelchairs, while charities trying to address the gap are few and far between.
“Crutches, wheelchairs, canes, prosthetic limbs, and braces should be considered the bare minimum for persons with disabilities,” Shewangizaw emphasized. “These essential tools should be provided for free, but the reality is that many disabled individuals struggle even to acquire these basics.”
The lack of mobility tools has far-reaching consequences. For instance, students with physical disabilities often miss out on education because they cannot travel to schools. Organizations like Cheshire Ethiopia have stepped in, producing prosthetics and body support equipment in workshops located in cities like Jimma. However, their efforts fall short of meeting the overwhelming demand.
“Even those fortunate enough to receive custom-made motorcycles or similar devices often abandon them after a few years due to the inability to replace worn-out tires,” Shewangizaw explained. “When that happens, individuals are forced to resort to makeshift solutions like tying pieces of thin rubber around their hips as cushions to crawl on the ground.”
Tamiru Regassa, chairman of the Dire Dawa Association of Persons with Disabilities, reflects a sentiment shared widely among disability advocates: while there are efforts from both governmental and non-governmental organizations, these fall woefully short of addressing the needs of the disabled community. “Compared to the demand, disability services are barely enough,” he says.
Many leaders of disability-focused organizations interviewed by TheReporter Magazine concur that current initiatives often emphasize broad political and economic rights. However, they argue that foundational issues—such as access to roads, buildings, and essential services—must take precedence. Without these, persons with disabilities remain isolated, unable to engage in public discourse or demand their rights.
This challenge was underscored during a recent workshop between the Ethiopian Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities (EAPPD), Sweden-based advocacy group DHR, and NGO MyRight. The meeting assessed progress on a five-year rights-based project funded by DHR, with a particular focus on disabled women. A recurring issue hindering the program’s implementation was absenteeism. Many individuals with disabilities couldn’t attend key meetings due to inaccessible roads and transportation systems.
Participants emphasized that effective interventions require recognizing the diverse nature of disabilities. “Different disabilities require tailored solutions, and lumping all types together dilutes the effectiveness of any strategy,” one participant observed.
Rakeb Mesele, acting commissioner of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, characterized the rights of persons with disabilities in Ethiopia as “forgotten.” In an interview with the Reporter Newspaper, she stressed the importance of making buildings, transportation systems, and health facilities accessible. Without these basic infrastructural supports, people with disabilities face immense challenges in seeking services or exercising their rights.
“We must revise existing laws to fully address the needs and demands of persons with disabilities,” Rakeb urged, adding that access to timely and accurate information should also be guaranteed.
According to UNICEF’s 2018 survey, an estimated 7.8 million people in Ethiopia—roughly nine percent of the population—live with some form of disability. However, disability advocates argue that this figure is grossly underestimated.
Rakeb shares this scepticism: “Most statistics related to persons with disabilities are mere estimates. This lack of precise data hampers targeted and effective interventions.”
In a country with millions of disabled individuals, the absence of accessible infrastructure and inclusive services remains glaring. The call to action is clear: Ethiopia’s disabled community must no longer be sidelined in the nation’s development narrative.
In a recent report, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said, “There are not sufficient number of wheelchairs and porters to support the smooth movement of persons with disabilities,” the report said.
It said, many airports in the country are devoid of the necessary Private Rooms where persons with disabilities with braces on their bodies should undergo the necessary frisking. “They are being forced to unfit their braces in front of other passengers.”
And the number of Wheelchair Assisting Tracks upon boarding planes were not sufficiently available, the report said, adding absence of Desks specifically designed to cater to the information needs of passengers with disabilities was also another noticeable problem related to inclusivity of service and accessibility of airport infrastructures.
Sisay Sahlu and Abebe Fikir contributed to this story.
