Monrovia – The Partnership against Inequalities and Discrimination in Liberia – PAID, in collaboration with the National Commission on Disability and the National Union of Disable have been on a lobbying advocacy with the legislature mainly the house of representative for over one year fighting to ensure that the 2005 disability act is well strengthened that protects, promotes the well fare and well-being of persons with disabilities.
Speaking at the Press conference on Friday, May 24, 2019 madam Naomi D. Harris the head of the National Union of Disable of Liberia said that through their research and comparative analysis the 2005 Disability Act lacks basic information on issues that protect, promotes and empower persons with disability including the structure and function of the current national commission on disability.
Moreover, she also highlighted the significant progress that this coalition have made through the support of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), they have been able to stage lots of advocacy sit in action at the legislature and stakeholders engagement with the House of Representative most especially Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon representative of electoral district #11 Montserrado County and the entire membership of the house committee on gender and health of the honorable house of representative including the joint committee on Judiciary and Health.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition madam Naomi D. Harris wished to extend the coalition deepest gratitude to the house of representative for taking the bold step in seeing reasons for the Disability Act 2005 to be strengthened and the house of representative is poised to ensure the passage of the amended Disability Act of 2018.
Madam Naomi D. Harris use the press conference to rally the support of the citizenry to join their advocacy intervention by calling on the Liberian Senate to concur with the house of representative on the passage of the AMENDED ACT OF 2018 ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON DISABILITY.
Through all of these efforts and engagement the coalition strongly believes that the passing in to law of this act will address the many challenges that persons with disabilities faced and to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are fully restored and protected.
Members of the coalition are calling on all well mini Liberians to join them in supporting this quest. They also use the press conference to again remind the people of Liberia that though they do not have the ability to see, hear and walk but they have the right to basis social services including working for our country, access to quality and affordable education, good health, access to public and business facilities, livelihood and etc.
She intimated that through their effort and consistent engagement with members of the national legislature on May 16, 2019 the amended disability act of 2018 was discharge from committee room after the joint committee on judiciary and health reported to plenary and it was place on the agenda for discussion.
Speaking to the press during that moment madam Harris was thrilled and she reveals to the press that it was a milestone achievement for the coalition but they are equally appealing to the consciences of members of the honorable Liberian Senate to kindly concur with their colleague.
Speaking in closing at the press conference madam Naomi Harris mentioned these words “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination event in the state of my Disability”. By Jimmy Dean