Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement

(WordPress-Optimised Version – Aligned with EU Web Accessibility Directive)

The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is committed to ensuring that its website, www.oacps.org , is accessible to the widest possible audience, including persons with disabilities.
Our website is built on the WordPress platform, and we actively use accessibility-enhancing tools and design practices to support compliance with the EU Web Accessibility Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/2102) and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

Our Accessibility Approach in WordPress

To maintain a high level of accessibility, our WordPress implementation includes:

1. Accessibility-Ready Theme Structure

OACPS.org uses a modern WordPress theme configured to support:

• Semantic HTML5 structure
• Proper heading hierarchy (H1–H6)
• ARIA roles and labels
• Keyboard navigation support
• High-contrast mode compatibility

2. Accessibility Plugins and Tools

We use a combination of accessibility features and plugins that may include:

• WP Accessibility (skip links, language attributes, keyboard fixes)
• One Click Accessibility (contrast toggle, font size options, underline links, visual focus)
• Accessibility Checker (error/warning detection in posts and pages)
• Alt text verification through WordPress Media Library
• PDF accessibility checks for uploaded files

These tools help us identify, mitigate, and monitor Web Content Accessibility Guideline issues as part of our publishing workflow.

3. Editor-Level Accessibility

Within the Gutenberg block editor, we apply:

• Accessible block patterns
• Proper alt text for images
• Captions for media and embeds
• Descriptive anchor text for links
• Avoidance of colour-only indicators
• Table headers and ARIA labels where required

Theme templates are customised to ensure consistent accessibility across all pages.

Compliance Status

OACPS.org is currently partially compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, due to certain non-accessible content listed below.

Non-Accessible Content

Some parts of the website may not yet be fully accessible because:

1. Non-compliance with accessibility standards

• Older PDF or scanned documents may lack tagging or structure.
• Some legacy pages may contain outdated HTML markup.
• Embedded third-party videos may lack captions or transcripts.
• Some images may still be missing alternative text.

2. Disproportionate burden

Large volumes of archived documents originating from Member States and institutions prior to 23 September 2018 cannot be remediated retroactively without disproportionate burden.

3. Content outside our control

• Third-party WordPress embeds (YouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps, Forms)
• External documents uploaded by partners
• Social media iframes or feeds

Feedback and Support

We welcome feedback to help us improve accessibility.
If you encounter any accessibility issues or require content in an alternative format (HTML, accessible PDF, large print, audio), please contact:

Email: ict@acp.int
General inquiries: registry@acp.int

We will respond within 15 working days, in line with EU Web Accessibility Directive requirements.

Enforcement Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the relevant Belgian enforcement authority responsible for monitoring compliance with the Web Accessibility Directive.

Technical Compatibility

The OACPS website is designed to work with:

• Modern versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge
• Screen readers such as NVDA and JAWS
• WordPress accessibility-ready themes and plugins

We recommend keeping your browser and assistive technologies updated for the best experience.

Preparation of This Statement

This statement was prepared on 25 November 2025
and is reviewed annually as part of our WordPress accessibility compliance programme.