Shape International

Council urges government and employers to turn legal protections into job opportunities for persons with disabilities The National Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities (NACPWD) has called for stronger action to protect the employment rights of persons with disabilities in The Gambia, warning that legal provisions alone are insufficient without effective implementation. In a press statement issued on 21 October 2026 to mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the Council highlighted the importance of equal employment opportunities under the theme #EmploymentRightsForAll. The Council said employment is a fundamental human right and an important pathway to economic independence, dignity and full participation in society. It referenced Section 33 of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, Sections 25–27 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2021, and Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which addresse...

The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) and its partners are preparing to map disability-inclusive service providers under a European Union-funded initiative aimed at identifying available services, exposing potential gaps in access and strengthening support for persons with disabilities across targeted areas of The Gambia. The exercise is expected to generate evidence to guide service coordination, policy development and advocacy, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that persons with disabilities can access essential healthcare, rehabilitation, education, assistive technology and other support services. The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD), in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the National Organisation for the Disabled and Orphans (NODO), and Special Olympics The Gambia, is preparing to map disability-inclusive service providers to improve access to essential services and strengthen disability rights advocacy. The exercise forms part of the European Union-f...