Africa-Press – Gambia. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday held a validation workshop at the Senegambia Beach Hotel for the draft monitoring framework supporting the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2021.
The workshop forms part of on-going efforts to strengthen mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of legislation designed to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Gambia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015, reaffirming its commitment to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities. The domestication of the Convention through the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2021 marked a significant milestone in advancing disability rights in the country.
According to the NHRC, the monitoring framework, developed with technical support from consultant Dr. Sima, is intended to equip the National Advisory Council — mandated by the Act to lead its implementation — with practical tools and indicators to track progress, enhance accountability, and support evidence-based implementation across sectors, including health, education, employment, accessibility, and social protection.
Participants at the workshop emphasized that legislation alone was insufficient without effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure tangible outcomes for persons with disabilities. Stakeholders also underscored the importance of inclusive participation, highlighting the leadership and lived experiences of persons with disabilities under the principle “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
The NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to working with government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to promote dignity, equality and the full participation of persons with disabilities in national development.
