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This book evaluates the status of the rights of persons with disabilities in the African context drawing from international, regional and national perspectives. It assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the existing legal frameworks in Africa for achieving the full citizenship rights of persons with disabilities. It uses the concept of citizenship to justify and advocate for the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. In the African context, it argues that the existing regional legal framework in Africa does not provide adequate legal protections and guarantees for safeguarding the human rights of persons with disabilities. The African regional human rights instruments often portray persons with disabilities as recipients of care, assistance and rehabilitation services, replicating the perspective of the individual/bio-medical model. It maintains that persons with disabilities should be reasonably accommodated to meet their needs in all circumstances in order to attain their full citizenship status. Otherwise, the exclusion, marginalization and discrimination experienced by persons with disabilities will remain unabated.

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Dr Futsum Abbay is a disability human rights scholar and researcher. He received his doctoral degree from the Faculty of Law of McGill University, Canada. He has taught law at the University of Asmara, Eritrea, for five years. His research interests include international, comparative and African disability law and international human rights law.

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