Rep. Rugie Barry Pushes Landmark Disability Rights Bill as Lawmakers Order Fast-Track Review

Capitol Hill, Liberia: Montserrado County District #1 Representative Rugie Yatu Barry has introduced a powerful new bill that could legally guarantee inclusion, employment and social protection for one of the country’s most marginalized populations.

During the 10th day sitting of the First Quarter of the 3rd Session on Thursday, February 12, the House of Representatives unanimously mandated its Joint Committees on Health and Judiciary to urgently review the proposed legislation titled “An Act to Provide for the Inclusion, Employment and Support of Persons with Disability within the Republic of Liberia, 2026.”

Presenting the bill to plenary, Rep. Barry painted a grim picture of life for persons with disabilities in Liberia, declaring that their daily suffering is not accidental but the result of long-standing neglect and exclusion.

“For far too long, persons with disabilities in Liberia have been treated as invisible citizens,” Rep. Barry told lawmakers. “They are denied education, shut out of employment, and excluded from social services that every Liberian is entitled to. This is not just unfair it is a violation of their fundamental human rights.”

She said the proposed law is designed to move Liberia from sympathy to action, ensuring that persons with disabilities are not only protected but empowered through guaranteed access to jobs, training, and public services.

“This bill is about dignity,” she added. “It is about making sure that no Liberian is condemned to poverty simply because of a physical or mental condition.”

According to the House Press Bureau, the legislation seeks to create a legal framework that compels both government and private institutions to include persons with disabilities in the workforce, while also providing support systems that can lift them out of extreme poverty and social exclusion.

Lawmakers, acknowledging the urgency of the issue, ordered the Joint Committees to complete their review and submit a report within two weeks, a move widely seen as a signal that the House intends to treat the bill as a priority.

“This House cannot continue to turn its back on some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” one lawmaker remarked during the session. “If we are serious about equality and justice, then this bill must not gather dust.”

If passed into law, Rep. Barry’s proposal could become one of Liberia’s most far-reaching social justice reforms in years, potentially transforming the lives of thousands of people who have long been pushed to the margins of society.