Africa-Press – Gambia. Magistrate Muhammed Krubally, President of the Gambia Federation of the Disabled, has emphasized that persons with disabilities (PWDs) must be treated equally and included in all aspects of society.
He made this statement during a two-day forum on Advancing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an event held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
“PWDs are human beings and must be treated on an equal basis. We must coexist and be fully included in the community,” Magistrate Krubally stated.
He highlighted that the rights of PWDs are grounded in principles enshrined in Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Describing the forum as a significant milestone for the disability community, he said: “This is in line with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda 2030. If The Gambia wants to achieve these goals, disability issues must be integrated across all sectors. This places a responsibility on stakeholders to ensure the rights of PWDs are respected and upheld.”
Emmanuel Joof, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), reiterated the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities.
He noted that The Gambia has ratified both the UNCRPD and, more recently, the African Union Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, he acknowledged that significant challenges remain.
“Despite these progressive steps, PWDs in The Gambia still face enormous challenges, including discrimination, stigma, exclusion, and barriers to education, healthcare, transportation, employment, and participation in public life,” Joof said.
He added that the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2021 has been slow, with many of its promises yet to be realized.
“This forum is both timely and necessary. It provides a platform to reflect on progress, identify persistent challenges, and most importantly, strategize on how to accelerate the enforcement of the Act,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to focus on concrete and actionable measures that will positively impact the lives of persons with disabilities — especially children, women, and other vulnerable groups.
Honourable Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the rights of PWDs.
“Disability is part of the human condition. At some point in our lives — particularly in old age, we may all experience some form of disability,” Minister Kinteh noted.
Karl Frederic Paul, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in The Gambia, emphasized that the inclusion of persons with disabilities is not optional but fundamental.
He pointed out that The Gambia, in collaboration with civil society organizations and with support from the United Nations, has taken significant steps to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
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