The Liberia chapter of the African Journalists with Disabilities (AJwD) has called for renewed commitment to implementing disability rights laws, restoring funding for disability institutions, and strengthening accountability through investigative journalism.

The call came during AJwD Liberia’s monthly knowledge-sharing webinar held on 6 July 2026, themed “Liberia Disability Act: Progress, Challenges and the Way Forward.” The virtual session brought together journalists, disability advocates, and inclusion practitioners to assess more than two decades of disability legislation and chart a practical path toward a more inclusive Liberia.

Opening the session, moderator by AJwd member, provided historical context, noting that Liberia’s National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) Act, enacted in 2005, represented a significant milestone in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities. However, participants observed that, despite the law’s existence for over two decades, many of its promises remain largely unfulfilled.

The discussion highlighted that the Act mandates government action on education, healthcare, vocational training, rehabilitation, employment, and social integration for persons with disabilities. While the establishment of the National Commission on Disabilities created an important institutional framework, speakers agreed that implementation has lagged due to persistent structural and financial constraints.

Delivering the keynote presentation, disability inclusion advocate Emmanuel reflected on the progress recorded since the legislation came into force. Among the notable achievements are Liberia’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2012, the development of successive National Action Plans on Disability, and modest improvements in electoral accessibility and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Nevertheless, participants agreed that these gains remain insufficient when measured against the daily realities experienced by many Liberians with disabilities.

The webinar identified chronic underfunding as one of the greatest obstacles to implementation. Participants noted that the National Commission on Disabilities has seen its operational budget significantly reduced, limiting its capacity to coordinate programmes, enforce compliance, and provide effective services nationwide. Calls were made for government funding to be substantially increased to enable the Commission to fulfil its statutory responsibilities.

The conversation also drew attention to several longstanding challenges, including poor enforcement of the public sector employment quota for persons with disabilities, outdated national disability statistics, inaccessible public infrastructure, and barriers within the justice system that prevent many persons with disabilities from accessing fair legal processes.

Participants further expressed concern over recurring leadership instability within the National Commission on Disabilities, arguing that frequent administrative changes have disrupted long-term planning and institutional effectiveness.

For journalists with disabilities, the conversation extended beyond public policy to challenges within the media profession itself. Speakers highlighted limited access to inclusive newsroom environments, inadequate reporting resources, and insufficient specialised training as barriers to impactful disability reporting.

A major outcome of the webinar was a renewed commitment by AJwD Liberia to strengthen investigative journalism on disability rights. Rather than limiting coverage to commemorative events, members pledged to pursue sustained reporting that holds public institutions accountable for implementing disability policies and legislation.

The webinar also resolved to continue advocating for the passage of Liberia’s standalone disability rights bill, currently before the Legislature following its submission earlier this year. Participants described the proposed legislation as an important step toward strengthening the country’s legal framework for disability inclusion.

In addition, AJwD Liberia announced plans to develop tailored capacity-building programmes for its members based on identified training needs while encouraging continued collaboration with disability organisations, policymakers, and development partners.

As Liberia reflects on more than 20 years of disability legislation, participants concluded that meaningful inclusion will depend not merely on the existence of laws, but on political will, adequate investment, effective implementation, and sustained public accountability. For AJwD Liberia, journalists remain central to ensuring that disability rights move beyond policy documents to become lived realities for every Liberian.

Read full report of the Webinar here or through this link https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7480271504442589185/?actorCompanyId=113087970