Liberia sets stage for three-day National Disability celebration

Published: November 28, 2025

MONROVIA — Liberia will observe this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) with a three-day national event from December 1–3, an effort organizers say will move the country beyond symbolism toward genuine inclusion, policy reform, and tangible progress. The celebration will be held under the theme, “Breaking Barriers, Lifting Liberia: PWDs at the Heart of Progress.”

The National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), working alongside NUOD, the Group of 77, more than 78 disability organizations, UN agencies, INGOs, CSOs, and key government ministries, has designed the 2025 edition to put persons with disabilities at the center of every discussion and activity.

“This is our moment,” said NCD Executive Director Samuel S. Dean, Sr. “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 celebration kicks off Monday, December 1, at Invincible Sports Park, where a major Inclusive Sports Festival will showcase Liberia’s athletic talent within the disability community. Wheelchair basketball, blind goalball, sitting volleyball, amputee soccer, and wheelchair races will headline the opening day. According to organizers, the festival aims to demonstrate that disability does not limit ability—and that inclusion in sports is an essential part of national unity and empowerment.

On Tuesday, December 2, attention shifts to the Ministerial Complex, where a daylong series of high-level policy dialogues will bring together government leaders, development partners, private-sector actors, and disability advocates.

Morning panels will focus on strengthening social protection systems, expanding inclusive education, and promoting disability-responsive climate action. A significant highlight will be the signing of Liberia’s first National Climate Inclusion Pact, a joint commitment between the NCD and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The afternoon sessions will spotlight economic empowerment. Leaders from the private sector, the Ministry of Labour, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and disability-led enterprises will discuss inclusive employment pathways, entrepreneurship, green jobs, and broader workplace reforms.

The day will conclude with a stakeholder consultation on the draft National Disability Bill and the proposed Disability Equity Fund, two measures disability advocates say are essential for breaking structural barriers and advancing long-term equity.

The official International Day observance takes place on Wednesday, December 3, beginning with a colorful parade through central Monrovia and followed by a full program at the Ministerial Complex.

This year’s centerpiece will be the keynote address and a symbolic presidential handover of the Disability Bill, signaling a major milestone for Liberia’s disability community. The day will also feature the launch of the “Street to School” initiative, starting with the enrollment of the first 50 rescued children.

Awards will be given to National Disability Inclusion Champions, and artists with disabilities will perform cultural acts. The NCD will also introduce a 3D model for the upcoming National Disability and Innovation Hub, signaling a move away from decades of working in rented spaces.

All sessions throughout the three days will be fully accessible, with sign-language interpretation, live captioning, braille materials, and mobility-friendly venues.

The 2025 global UN theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress”, will complement Liberia’s message that no country can progress while up to a fifth of its population remains marginalized.

The public is invited to attend the December 1 sports festival and the grand celebration on December 3. Media institutions are encouraged to register early to ensure full access to coverage.

Dean said, “Come December 3, Liberia will show Africa and the world that when we break barriers together, we lift the entire nation.”