PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

CHAPTER 33:06
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

PART I
PRELIMINARY

    1.    Short title

    2.    Interpretation

PART II
MALAWI COUNCIL FOR DISABILITY AFFAIRS

    3.    Establishment of Malawi Council for Disability Affairs

    4.    Functions of the Council

    5.    Powers of the Council

    6.    Composition of the Council

    7.    Tenure of office and vacancies

    8.    Meetings of the Council

    9.    Committees of the Council

    10.    Disclosure of interest

    11.    Allowances and expenses

    12.    Common seal

PART III
ADMINISTRATION

    13.    Secretariat

    14.    Director General

    15.    Duties of the Director General

    16.    Removal of Director General

    17.    Other employees of the Council

PART IV
FUNDS AND PROPERTY OF THE COUNCIL

    18.    Funds and property of the Council

    19.    Accounting and audit

    20.    Establishment and management of the Disability Trust Fund

PART V
REGISTRATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND INSTITUTIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING DISABILITY PROGRAMMES

    21.    Registration of persons with disabilities

    22.    Registration of institutions, associations, etc., implementing disability programmes

PART VI
RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

    23.    Respect, promotion and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities

    24.    Prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment

    25.    Health care and rehabilitation services

    26.    Education and training

    27.    Work and employment

    28.    Access to a physical environment

    29.    Provision of parking space and access to public transport

    30.    Access to information, communication and technology

    31.    Adequate standard of living

    32.    Access to justice

    33.    Participation in political and public life

    34.    Cultural, sporting and recreational services

    35.    Economic activity

    36.    Research

PART VII
ENFORCEMENT

    37.    Complaints

    38.    Compliance orders

PART VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

    39.    Incentives to local manufacturers

    40.    Power to inspect

    41.    Civil remedies

    42.    Offences and penalties

    43.    Oath of secrecy

    44.    Protection from liability

    45.    Annual reports

    46.    Regulations

PART IX
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

    47.    Repeal and savings

    48.    Transfer of assets and liabilities

    49.    Transfer of licences

    50.    Legal proceedings

    51.    Transfer of employees

        SCHEDULE

4 of 2024
G.N. 18/2024

    An Act to provide for the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities; obligations of duty bearers in the promotion and protection of rights of persons with disabilities; a simplified and cost-effective mechanism for redress in cases of a breach of the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities; the establishment of the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs; the establishment of the Disability Trust Fund; the registration of persons with disabilities, institutions, associations and organizations implementing disability programmes; the repeal of the Handicapped Persons Act and the Disability Act and matters incidental thereto

PART I
PRELIMINARY

1.    Short title

    This Act may be cited as the Persons with Disabilities Act.

2.    Interpretation

    In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

    “assistive products” means appropriate aids, appliances, technologies or other support systems that facilitate the better functioning of persons with disabilities;

    “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Council appointed under section 6 (1) (a);

    “communication” means disseminating information to a person with disabilities using a means or format that makes the information accessible and comprehensible to the person and includes the use of languages, display of text, braille, tactile communication, sign language, signs, large print, accessible multimedia whether in written, audio or plain language, human-reader in augmentative or alternative modes, formats of communication;

    “compliance order” means an order issued by the Council under section 39;

    “Council” means the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs established under section 3;

    “disability” means a long-term physical, mental, psycho-social, intellectual, neurological, developmental or other sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder full and effective participation in society of a person on an equal basis with others;

    “discriminate” means to accord different treatment to a person solely or mainly on the basis of a disability of the person, and includes using words, gestures or caricatures that demean, scandalize or embarrass a person with a disability;

    “reasonable accommodation” means the provision of necessary and appropriate facilities including modifications and adjustments, where necessary, to ensure persons with disabilities effective enjoyment or exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms, on an equal basis with others;

    “rehabilitation” means inpatient or outpatient health care services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and psychiatric rehabilitation services that help a person with disabilities to keep, restore or improve skills and functioning for daily living;

    “universal design” means a design of a building that makes the building usable by all persons, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for…