Disabilities issues at the helm of affairs in The Gambia

Disabilities issues at the helm of affairs in The Gambia

Disabilities welfare is at the helm of affairs of The Gambia Government, the United Nations Systems in The Gambia, and stakeholders as showcased at the ongoing Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) General Assembly Congress and Commemoration of International Day of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) taking place at Moses Lodge in Jarra Soma, Lower River Region (LRR) from 9 to 11 February 2024. Various speakers at the formal opening ceremony expressed commitment towards promoting rights of PWDs, as enshrined in national, regional and international laws, protocols and conventions guaranteeing rights of PWDs. GFD is the national umbrella body of PWDs, aimed to address their needs and welfare. Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) in The Gambia came together to form the GFD in the early 1990s. There are currently 19 DPOs registered under the GFD. Mrs Fatou Kinteh - Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare has affirmed Government's commitment through her ministry to "embark on every possible means to ensure that the full independence of persons with disabilities is realised, through the provision of their basic needs.

"My ministry will work closely with all relevant ministries and stakeholders to work towards a barrier free environment and inclusive public service to all persons with disabilities," she said in a statement delivered on her behalf by Jankoba Jabbi, Social Welfare Director. Mr Jabbi represented Minister Kinteh during events marking the International Disability Day Celebration and Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) General Assembly Congress held at Moses Lodge in Jarra Soma, Lower River Region on 10 February 2024, funded by the UNICEF, UNFPA and UNAIDs. "My ministry will continue strengthening partnerships with the organisations of persons with disabilities to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as ensuring disability is mainstreamed in SDGs implementation, and by doing so, leaving no one behind," she said. He recollected that as of "3 December this year during the annual celebration of people with disabilities, the Government of The Gambia delivered a milestone achievement by ratifying the United Nation Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 6 July 2015. "The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare has tabled the Persons With Disability Bill 2021 before the National Assembly for enactment. This Bill was passed by the National Assembly on the 6 July 2021, and assented to by the President on the 25 July 2021, to become an ACT to give effect to Government's commitment to protect the right of Persons with Disabilities as outlined in Section 31 of The Gambia 1997 Constitution, and the United Nation Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) for which The Gambia is a signatory.

"In essence the purpose of this ACT is to give effect to the Government's commitment to protect the Right of PWDs as outlined in Section 31 of the The Gambia 1997 Constitution . It also imposes obligations upon service providers, State and non-state actors, communities and individuals to protect and promote the Rights of PWDs. The Act additionally provides a framework for its recognition and implementation. "As a follow up to the Act- a National Disability Advisory Council was established and inaugurated on 14 December 2022, with the nominations and appointment of a chairman by HE the President. "Persons With Disability Policy (2022-2031) and Strategic Work Plan (2022-2026) was validated in November 2022, approved by Cabinet in September 2023. The strategic work plan was developed to support the implementation of the Policy and Disability Act. "In the same vein the AU Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities and the AU protocol to the African Charter on human and people's rights on the right of Older Persons were approved by Cabinet in 2023 for eventual ratification by the National Assembly.

"The ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare has provided the much needed state of the art specialised technical equipment and material to sustain the production of prostheses and other services for the benefit of persons with disabilities," stated Mr Jabbi on behalf of Mrs Kinteh. Landing B. Sanneh, Chairman of Mansakonko Area Council, said "each and every one of us has some form of disability." Adding that we are able and we will continue to be able, pertake and participate meaningfully towards the development of the society, our country and our personal developments. "We are capable and I am sure we can do it," he said, while assuring his council's interest and readiness to work with PWDs to provide necessary services to the persons with disability (PWDs) Lower River Region (LRR) region, and the country at large," he said. Mr Sanneh further noted that his council represents the LRR community and as a result nominated PWD to be part and parcel of the decision making process in the LRR region when he came into office in 2018. He therefore called on GFD to send a nominee to fill the nominated position for PWD in his second term in the new council. Muhammed Krubally The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) Chairman in his remarks described the event as a "very important day in the history and the lives of persons with disabilities," the gathering, bringing together stakeholders to stand the solidarity PWDs to ensuring that SDGs agenda of 20230 is achieved.

GFD Chairman, Cum Principal Magistrate at the Banjul Magistrates Court said article 3 of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and section 4 of persons with disabilities Act 2021 caution that persons with disabilities have principles that need not to be compromised. "These principles are respect for inherent dignity in individual freedom; Non discrimination, full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in the society, and respect for the rights of children with disabilities."

He reminded stakeholders, including Chairman of Mansakonko Area Council and other administrative regions in The Gambia that section 22 of PWDs Act 2021 enjoined the Local Government Councils to accord support for PWDs. "Please tell the Governor that the National Disability Advisory Steering Committees has been set up and established for all the region's. So Mansakonko region should also make sure that the committee becomes a workable one," Mr Krubally who doubles as the first and only visually impaired magistrate in The Gambia he concluded. Ms. Sirra Horeja Ndow - UNAIDS Country Director on behalf of UN Resident Coordinator in her remarks re-echoed that The Gambia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 2015, adding: "In 2021, The Gambia subsequently domesticated this Convention by enacting the Disabilities Act in July 2021."

She said The Gambia’s Green Focused National Development Plan has a pillar dedicated to empowerment, social inclusion, and leaving no one behind, including PWDs . "These actions signal a positive trajectory towards fulfilling state obligations towards the protection of the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs). "Despite this, PWDs continue to face stigma and discrimination and exclusion, resulting in non-enjoyment of their rights with adverse effects on their overall well-being and potential. UNAIDS is committed to ensuring that countries have policies that promote zero Discrimination on the basis of disabilities. The UN is cognisant of the challenges faced by PWDs "We recognise the government’s efforts and continue to provide support, including raising awareness and recognition of disability as a human rights issue as enshrined in the CRPD and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which we recently celebrated its s 75th anniversary. "The UN Gambia’s new Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework has outcomes that ensure vulnerable groups benefit from support, with specific mention of PWDs, to make them resilient to climate related and other shocks and have access to sustainable food, health, and WASH systems, including HIV-information, Prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. "We also have a project on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly women and children with disabilities, in The Gambia is jointly implemented by UNFPA and UNICEF. "UNAIDS also engaged the community of people living with disabilities during the WCA regional consultations for the development of the UNAIDS global AIDS strategy. "We know that PWDs experience all of the risk factors associated with HIV and are often at increased risk because of poverty, severely limited access to education and health care, lack of information and resources, lack of legal protection, increased risk of violence, and rape, vulnerability to abstain abuse and stigma. Education Plus’ a UN Joint Initiative. (UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and UN Women) aims to address these risk factors among adolescent girls and young women. "Furthermore, the UN has a Disability Inclusion Strategy that provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. "The UN in the Gambia takes relevant steps to ensure it adheres to the strategy’s principles through a dedicated interagency Disability Thematic Group," she said, while applauding the GFD’S commitment towards awareness, advocating for and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities,for holding successful AGM and Commemoration ot International Day of PWDs that also focuses particularly on women with Disabilities and a special session on HIV & AlDS, to ensure no one is left behind in accessing HIV information, testing, prevention, treatment, and care services.

"The UN system in The Gambia affirms its commitment towards supporting your efforts in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly in ensuring the achievement of the SDGs that speak towards reducing inequalities. "The term persons with disabilities is used to apply to all persons with disabilities including those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal level." Meanwhile, GFD Congress has unanimously renewed Muhammed Krubally unopposed as GFD Chairman; Jabel Ceesay as 1st Vice Chairman, 2nd Vice Chairman- Modou Gaye; Ousman Bojang Treasuirer; Ordinary Board Members are: Ms Jarrai Jabbi, Madam Fatoumatta Fatty, Alhagie Ceesay and Mr Sheriff Kinteh.