Monrovia — In a decisive move toward social justice and visible inclusion, Liberia has today launched its largest-ever observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The three-day national celebration, running from December 1 through December 3, is set to go beyond ceremonial tradition to push for tangible policy reform.
Organized by the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) in partnership with the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled (NUOD), the Group of 77, and over 78 disability organizations, the event operates under the local theme: “Breaking Barriers, Lifting Liberia: PWDs at the Heart of Progress.”
Samuel S. Dean, Sr., Executive Director of the NCD, emphasized that the 2025 celebration marks a turning point for the community.
“This is our moment,” Dean said. “For too long, persons with disabilities have been spoken about rather than listened to. This year, PWDs will lead the conversation, the sports, the policy debates, and the celebration.”
The festivities began today, Monday, at the Invincible Sports Park with a spectacular Inclusive Sports Festival. Designed to prove that “disability is not inability,” the event features wheelchair basketball, blind goalball, sitting volleyball, and amputee football.
Following the sports kickoff, the focus shifts to the Ministerial Complex on Tuesday, December 2, for high-level policy dialogues. Key items on the agenda include:
Climate Action: The signing of Liberia’s first-ever National Climate Inclusion Pact between the NCD and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Economic Empowerment: A panel featuring private-sector leaders and the Ministry of Labour focused on entrepreneurship, green jobs, and workplace inclusion.
Legislation: Stakeholder consultations on the draft National Disability Bill and the proposed Disability Equity Fund.
Grand Finale and Future Outlook The celebration concludes on Wednesday, December 3—the official International Day—with a parade through central Monrovia and a grand program at the Ministerial Complex.
Highlights of the final day include the official launch of the “Street to School” initiative, which will see the first 50 rescued children reintegrated into the education system. Additionally, the NCD will unveil a 3D model for Liberia’s future National Disability and Innovation Hub, a project intended to end decades of the Commission operating out of rented facilities.
Organizers note that with 16–20 percent of the population currently excluded from full participation, genuine national development is impossible without these reforms.
“Come December 3, Liberia will show Africa and the world that when we break barriers together, we lift the entire nation,” Dean concluded.
The public is invited to attend the remaining events, which will be fully accessible, featuring sign-language interpretation, live captioning, and braille materials.
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