UNPRPD hosts focus group discussions to inform disability audit tool for tracking and documenting stigma and discrimination

The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Multi-country project on Ending Stigma and Discrimination, Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Marginalization of Persons with Disabilities in partnership with Light of the World is currently working on the design of a disability audit tool.

As part of the first phase of the audit tool development, a focus group discussion with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) learners and instructors was held at Harare Polytechnic on 16 May 2022.

The focus group discussions were aimed at unpacking issues of stigma and discrimination affecting TVET institutions, employers, and worker’s organizations in Zimbabwe.

As part of an explorative study, the focus group discussions’ findings will inform the designing of an audit tool that will assist TVET institutions and employers’ and workers’ organizations in tracking and documenting the stigma and discrimination patterns and the shift in attitudes and perceptions.

Key points deduced from the discussions revealed that persons with disabilities continue to face various forms of stigma and discrimination in Technical and Vocational training institutions and workspaces.