The
Gambia Federation for the Disabled (GFD) yesterday held a daylong commemoration
of the International Day of Persons with Disability known as World Disability
Day, annually celebrated on 3 December since 1992.
The
day is promulgated by the United Nations to encourage a better understanding of
people affected by disability, and to make people more aware of the right,
dignity, and welfare of persons with disabilities.
This
year’s theme was ‘Achieving 17 SDG Goals for the future we want: creating a
more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities’.
Sainey
Camara, disability rehabilitation technician at the Department of Social
Welfare, on behalf of the director of the department, said the commemoration
offered the opportunity to promote awareness about people with disabilities as
well as encourage them by implementing a lot of assistance in their real life
to enhance their ways of life and remove the social stigma towards them.
For
him, the purpose of the day was to improve the understandings of the people
worldwide towards those with disability.
With
the development of the Integrated National Disability Policy, The Gambia
government is committed to the promotion of the rights and welfare of persons
with disabilities.
Also,
the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and the drafting of the Bill for Persons with Disabilities are
significant strides by the government towards the achievement of Agenda 2030.
