The Mandate and Objectives ofARI are based upon those originally formulated in1981 and include new society demands and developments, taking into consideration governments capacity building and the concerns of disavled people's organisations.ARI mandate shall be;
1. To assist Member States to enhance diability prevention and rehabilitation services and to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.
2. To promote and encourage the implementation of the Continental Plan of Africa Decade of People with Disabilities as wellas the UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportnities for Persons with Disabilites among the Member States of the African Union.
3 To implement active participatory collboration with disabled people's organisations to ensure the understanding of disability concerns and thereby strenghten ARI's policies and programmes. Organisational Structure of ARI
The ARI is composed of three main orgnas, namely the Labour and Social Affairs Commission (LSAC), the Governing Board and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Two other organs are the General Secretariat of ARI and the Regional Offices and other organs as may be established by the Labour and Social Affairs Commission. Objective of the Institute
The Objectives of the Institute , in assisting the Member States of the African Union (AU) shall be;
a) To promote the formulation and implementation of national policies and legislation which shall be in line with the World Programme of Acton (WTA) Human Rights Instruments, the UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilites, while paying particular attention to the participation and full involvement of people with disabilites because of their unique experience and expertise in disability issues.
b) To encourage a unified approach by Member States for promoting equalization of opportunities for people with disabilites and the development of prevention and rehabilitation services in Africa.
c) To facilitate the intergration, in mainstream structures and services of people with disabilites, who because of social and attitudinal barriers are excluded from participating meaningfully in the life and development of their communities.
d) To promote the development of community based programmes for rehabilitation and social integration of people with disabilities in rural communities.
e) To create favourable conditions for Inter-African co-operation and mutual assistance in attaing equal opportunities for people with disabilites as wel as provision of rehabilitation services.
f) To promote establishment of participatory research programmes on disability issues in consultation with people with disabilites and their organisations.
g) To facilitate activities and programmes which promote equalization of opportunites for people with disabilites in conjuntion with various international, governmental and non-governmental organisations engaged in disability programmes in Africa.
h) To promote and ensure the exchange of information and sharing of experiences within Africa and other countries of the world. |
