Monrovia, Liberia – The national legislature has been petitioned by the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled to unanimously accept and ratify the African Disability Protocol. By signing this crucial piece of legislation, according to NOUD President Peter Flomo, the national assembly will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Liberia is a truly democratic country.
The National Union of Organizations of the Disabled and Sight Savers – Liberia launched the equal world campaign in Monrovia on Friday, July 28, 2023, and Mr. Flomo presented a petition to the national legislature at the event.
The union, which advocates for 14 coordinators and 55 organizations serving disabled people around the nation, also urged President George Weah to cooperate fully in executing the Act, which was passed by the National Legislature on November 29, 2005, and printed into a handbill on December 29, 2005.
In order to accommodate and facilitate the representation of the disabled population at the national legislature, the act mandated the creation of a special national constituency. This constituency was to have at least three MPs who would be elected to represent the interests of the disabled in the parliament.
The NOUD President also requested the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Liberia Senate to initiate discussion at the two honorable houses in order to begin the enforcement of the Disabled Act and the signing of the Disabled Act.
According to Mr. Flomo, President Weah’s support to achieve the goals and objectives of the vulnerable, which comprise over 16 percent of Liberia’s population, and increase the hope of the country’s most vulnerable group.
Ahead of the high-level UN summit on the sustainable development objectives in September 2023, Bella Musa Joof, the country director of Sight Savers-Liberia, emphasized that the equal world campaign is raising awareness for 100 days and appealing for the protection of global handicap rights. With the intention of reducing poverty and inequality by 2030, the UN and governments all around the world approved the sustainable development objectives in 2015.
He claimed that Liberia has lagged behind the rest of the world in terms of disability rights and that progress on the SDGs must be accelerated in order to ensure that persons with disabilities are included.
”We are urging the Liberian government to ratify the African Disability Protocol and to mobilize political commitments and significant actions to advance inclusive and disaggregated data signup, said Mr. Joof, adding that “governments must ensure that the political declaration and all national commitments made at the SDGs summit focus on reaching those who are being left the furthest behind.”
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
