Editors, reporters trained on disability rights

The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) on Wednesday concluded a two-day training workshop for editors and reporters in the country.

The training, held at the Catholic Education Secretariat at West Field in Kanifing, brought together over thirty journalists in the country from both the print and electronic media.

In his opening remarks on the occasion, Ebrima Dibbasy from GFD said it was a pleasure for them to have representatives from different media houses in the country gather at one place to discuss disability rights.

GFD, he said, is an umbrella body that strengthens and represents the country’s community of the persons with disabilities by promoting their rights and seeking policy reforms for them.

The purpose of the workshop, he explained, was to increase awareness on disability rights and to establish a media monitoring network for issues relating to disability.

According to him, the workshop was sponsored by the EU through the Non-State Actors Strengthening Programme (NSASP).

For her part, Ms Liseli Bulthe, NSASP coordinator, spoke on their relationship with the GFD.

She expressed hope that the training would equip participants to actively support the awareness raising activities being carried out by the GFD, particularly the rights of children with disabilities.

Ndela Faye-Colley, disability programme manager of VSO, said her office was pleased to be associated with the training of journalists on disability rights.

Sainey Camara, disability desk officer, who represented the director of Social Welfare at the occasion, applauded the GFD for organising a training of this nature.

He said persons with disabilities fall under the purview of the Department of Social Welfare thus reaffirming their commitment to the plight of persons with disabilities.