Calls For Disabled People To Be Represented In The National Legislature
PHOTO: NOUD President Peter Flomo, Balla and Musa Joof, Sight Savers Country Director
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The National Union of Organizations of the Disabled has petitioned the national legislature to approve and ratify the African Disability Protocol without any exception.
According to studies, the number of persons living with disabilities in Liberia is huge, though the exact number is hard to come by.
“Exact statistics about disability in Liberia are out of date, but according to a UNICEF study from 1997, 16 per cent of the population has a disability.4 The uncertainty of the data is further presented in an underestimated value of 3,10 per cent of Liberian Population with disability.5 Similarly the Liberia Labour Force Report, finds that‘4% of the eligible population reported a disability, with very little difference in the rates as between males and females’. said a 2020 report. AC Onuora-Oguno ‘Country report: Liberia’ (2020) 8 African Disability Rights Yearbook 178-196 (up.ac.za)
NOUN President Peter Flomo, said by affixing signature to this very important legislation, the national legislature will be demonstrating beyond reasonable doubt that Liberia is truly a democratic nation.
Mr. Flomo petitioned the national legislature at the launching of the equal world campaign by the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled in collaboration with the Sight Savers –Liberia in Monrovia during the weekend.
The union, which represents 55 disabled organizations and 14 coordinators throughout the country, also appealed to President George Weah for his fullest cooperation in enforcing the Act approved by the National Legislature November 29, 2005 and printed into hand bill December 29, 2005.
The act called for a special national constituency to accommodate and facilitate the representation of the disabled community at the national legislature with at least three legislators who are supposed to be elected to speak and foster the cause of the disabled people at the parliament.
According to Mr. Flomo, President Weah’s support to achieve the aims and objective of the vulnerable which comprises over 16 percent of Liberia’s population and increase the hope of the most vulnerable group in Liberia.
The NOUD President is also calling on the Speaker of the House of Representative and the President Pro Tempore of the Liberia Senate initiate discussion at the both honorable houses in order to begin the enforcement of the Disabled Act and the signing of all international protocols on disabilities.
For his part, the Country Director of Sight Savers- Liberia, Bella Musa Joof, pointed out that the equal world campaign is create awareness for 100 days calling for the protection global disability rights ahead of the high-level UN summit on the sustainable development goals in September this year.
In 2015, the UN and governments around the world adopted the sustainable development goals with the aim to reduce poverty and inequality by 2030.
According to him, the world including Liberia has fallen behind on disability rights and there is a need for governments and leaders in Liberia to speed up action on the SDGs and make sure they are inclusive people with disabilities.
“Governments must ensure that the political declaration and all national commitments made at the SDGs summit focus on reaching those who are being left furthest behind,” Mr. Joof said
“we are therefore calling on the Liberian government to ratify the African Disability Protocol and to mobilize political commitments and meaningful actions to advance inclusive and dis-aggregated data sign up,” the Sight Savers Country Director added.