By Adama Makasuba
Article 19 in partnership with European Union on Wednesday convened a day long National Stakeholders forum on disability rights bill at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
The forum held under the banner of support the enhancement of an enabling legislation to promote the rights of person with disability.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, regional director of Article 19, Fatou Jagne Senghore said the forum is meant to work, reflect and dialogue about the disability right bill which is pending for approval at the National Assembly.
She urged all stakeholders to work on the implementation of the bill describing it as very important saying it will help empower people with disability and give meaning to their rights.
Magistrate Muhammed Krubally President of the Federation said “Since we established this federation the question one may ask will be whether the Gambia government actually is paying urgent action to the needs the inherence the inalienable rights and freedom of person with disabilities in terms of education, equal opportunities, nondiscrimination and health – the answer we have is actually NO.”
He called for equal rights opportunities accorded to differently able persons as accorded to able persons-intern of job, education, health, and others.
“We feel as person with disability we are not actually protected since there is no existing legislation that will bin the Gambia government, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant authorities in addressing our plights,” he said.
He however, vowed their commitment (disable persons) in ensuring that that they make effective and active follow up to ensure that the disable bill is presented before the National Assembly for enactment and for implementation.
For his part the EU Ambassador to the Gambia, Attila Lajos assured EU’s support to the government of the Gambia in its final realization and fulfilling the rights of persons living disability.
Ebrima Sillah, minister of Information promised that “the disability bill” would hopefully be enacted at the National Assembly in the September or December sitting of the National Assembly.
“I want to assure the gathering of government commitment to provide an enabling environment that will promote the rights of person with disability –their rights to access to finances the right to access public employment the right to access land and property in this country,” he promised.