For the first time in Liberia’s history, a National Action Plan for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities is bringing together all levels of government in a unified, nation-wide approach to improving the lives of people with disabilities. At the very heart of the plan is the belief that people with disabilities should be fully included in society, and that to achieve that, there is a need for a national shift in attitudes and policies.
The purpose of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is to “promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”. Persons with disabilities often face unique challenges when it comes to participating in everyday life activities. Many of the difficulties stem from the way society is organized, and a limited awareness of exclusionary practices. It is therefore important to consider to what extent society supports or restricts the independence and choices of individuals with disabilities as well as access to education, income, community living, and inclusion in society as a whole.
Ratified in 2012 by the Government of Liberia, the CRPD provides overarching guidance on the achievement of inclusive practices across all aspects of society. To promote this work, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported the development of a National Action Plan for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, with the express purpose of outlining a strategy of inclusion across key social indicators. The plan includes concrete objectives which are realistic and achievable over a five-year timeline, with cost and oversight recommendations. The plan will be implemented, monitored, and evaluated in close collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities and support service organizations.
The National Action Plan for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities has as its aim the promotion of an inclusive society where people with disabilities can reach their full potential and participate in the everyday life of the community.
In supporting this aim, the National Action Plan recognizes that:
Disability is an issue impacting all aspects of Liberian society;
The Government Liberia values all its citizens, and is committed to promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in government, public services, and private enterprise;
New policy directions aimed at supporting independence and inclusion of people with disabilities in society will have a positive impact on public services delivery across government departments.
With the National Action Plan to Implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Government of Liberia is setting a process in motion which will exert a major influence throughout the next five years, not only on the lives of persons with disabilities, but on all citizens of Liberia. Under its pro-poor agenda, the government has committed to prioritize, among others, persons with disabilities and older adults. The intent of inclusion is to shape the mindset and culture of all people in order to build a stronger, more diverse society.
