THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA’S COMBINED REPORT ON THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN & PEOPLES’ RIGHTS & INITIAL REPORT ON THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA proceedings in which a disabled person is a party, the procedure shall take his or her condition into account.” Furthermore, Section 54 of the Women’s Act 2010 on the rights of women with disabilities has called on the State to take appropriate measures to ensure the protection of women with disabilities and take specific measures commensurate with their physical, economic and social needs to facilitate their access to employment, profession and vocational training as well as their participation in decision making and to ensure women with disabilities are protected from violence, discrimination including sexual abuse. The Government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its optional protocol on the 1st July 2013 expressing political will to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. There is also a draft Disability Bill under consultation which when enacted shall domesticate the Charter and form part of the laws for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and domesticate the Charter. The Government has developed a Disability Advocacy Strategy to integrate the interests of persons with disabilities in the country`s development agenda. The Government has registered success in this field. Furthermore, the Department of Social Welfare has devised a mechanism for addressing some of the concerns of PWDs, in collaboration with The Gambia Federation of the Disabled – Disability Employment Services. It has established a Disability Advocacy Strategy and engaged in Media Campaigns for sensitization (community radio programmes, television talk shows and newspaper articles). Furthermore, it has produced a documentary on PWDs in active and productive ventures for advocacy purposes. Many people with disabilities are being employed in both the public and private sector. The Government through the Department of Social Welfare, has also engaged in disability and equality training and this has been conducted for 12 training institutions and some employers. Countrywide disability outreach services were provided for Children with Disabilities (CWD) on the occasion of the launching of the State of the World’s Children Report 2013 in collaboration with UNICEF, thereby reaching 365 children across the regions. The Government has been networking with about 13 partner institutions in order to embrace disability and to include PWDs in their programmes and activities. Provision of services for technical aids and appliances, home visits, counselling and basic psycho-social therapy are also provided. 100