Draft ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy (2018) v1 post Burkina Faso and Gambia Workshops adaptation or specialized design. “Universal design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of PwD where this is needed.4 2. INTRODUCTION Approximately fifteen percent (15%) of the world’s population lives with a disability.5 This represents about one (1) billion people globally, and over thirty (35) million people in the West African States. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as mobile phones, public phones or the Internet, along with broadcasting services expand access to information, knowledge, and key public services, thereby promoting digital inclusion. ICT’s and broadcasting services have potential to address barriers that PwD face. Throughout the world, persons living with disabilities are already benefiting from the advantages of ICT-enabled applications in many ways to enable them to communicate effectively and share and receive information - this facilitates their meaningful participation in society. Thus, ECOWAS, in keeping with it´s Vision 2020, aimed at setting a clear direction and goal to significantly raise the standard of living of people through conscious and inclusive programmes, need to develop and implement policies, strategies and programmes for realizing universal access to ICT services, particularly by PwD (PWD). These policies will be in line with ECOWAS fundamental principles of inter-state cooperation, harmonization of policies and integration programmes and accountability economic and social justice and popular participation in development. A person's ability to use technology may be impaired due to various physical, sensory, emotional or cognitive disabilities. e-Accessibility or ICT Accessibility recognizes this and seeks to make ICT products and services available to all users, taking into account their differing capabilities. 3. LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK 3.1 International At an international level, a number of policy and legislative instruments contain key provisions that support the stated goal of this ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy which is making ICT accessible for PwD. This policy is consistent with the following international Instruments for promotion of human rights and these are; (a) United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) (b) International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) 4 As defined in Article 2, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 5 World Report on Disability 2011 (World Health Organisation) 5