Africa-Press – Liberia. Dean said Liberia’s engagement at the global event focused on key themes including innovative financing for disability empowerment, the use of artificial intelligence for inclusion.
Liberia has reaffirmed its dedication to disability inclusion and global human rights, making a strong case for tangible progress during the 18th Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), held from June 8 to July 8, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The country was represented by the Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), Samuel Dean, who used the platform to highlight Liberia’s national achievements and call for stronger international action toward empowering persons with disabilities.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, July 14, 2025, upon his return to Monrovia, Dean—flanked by NCD Deputy Director for Administration Winnifred Paye—said Liberia’s engagement at the global event focused on key themes including innovative financing for disability empowerment, the use of artificial intelligence for inclusion, and the recognition of the role of Indigenous persons with disabilities.
During a roundtable on Indigenous rights and inclusion on June 11, Dean urged the UN and its partners to fully implement Article 29 of the UNCRPD. He said the article promotes genuine empowerment for persons with disabilities, especially Indigenous women seeking leadership roles. Dean called for “real support” that goes beyond symbolic gestures. His remarks received warm applause from delegates, signaling that Liberia’s advocacy is being recognized on the global stage.
Dean described Liberia’s journey toward disability inclusion as one marked by progress, resilience, and hope. He pointed to the creation of the National Commission on Disabilities in 2005 as a foundational step. The commission, established as an autonomous agency, has led advocacy efforts and ensured the protection and welfare of persons with disabilities across the country.
He also noted that the NCD’s first two executive directors were women—an achievement he said “shattered barriers that hinder women with disabilities from participating in decision-making spaces.”
In 2012, Liberia ratified the UNCRPD, further cementing its commitment to disability rights. Although the Optional Protocol to the Convention has not yet been ratified, Dean expressed optimism that Liberia, currently serving a non-permanent term on the United Nations Security Council, will seize the opportunity to deepen its global commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities.
Dean also praised the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for its recent actions to promote inclusion. He said five persons with disabilities have been appointed to strategic positions in government, a move he described as a powerful statement of belief in inclusive governance and the capability of persons with disabilities.
He emphasized that the government’s actions are not limited to symbolic representation but reflect a broader policy shift. Persons with disabilities were actively involved in national development consultations, resulting in the largest budgetary allocation for the NCD in its history—nearly one million U.S. dollars. Dean described the allocation as a breakthrough that marks a turning point in Liberia’s approach to disability empowerment.
“The government’s dedication is not merely a political statement but translates into tangible policy, action, and impact,” he said.
Dean concluded his statement with a call to action, urging the global community to work collectively in championing the rights of persons with disabilities. “Today, we plant seeds of hope, opportunity, and lasting change, knowing that together, with the support of the international community, we can turn the tide for persons with disabilities in Liberia and beyond,” he stated.
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