15/10/2026
FCRPD STATEMENT ON WORLD WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY — 15 OCTOBER
“The White Cane: A Symbol of Independence, Dignity, Equality and Freedom”
The Foundation for the Civic Rights of Persons with Disabilities (FCRPD)
joins the global community in commemorating World White Cane Safety Day, observed annually on 15 October, to celebrate the independence, resilience and achievements of persons who are blind or visually impaired and to renew our collective commitment to their safety, dignity, inclusion and equal rights.
White Cane Safety Day is more than a day on the calendar. It is a powerful reminder that persons with visual impairments are equal members of society who deserve the freedom to move, learn, work, travel, participate in public life and pursue their aspirations without discrimination, unnecessary barriers or fear for their safety.
The white cane is not a symbol of helplessness. It is an instrument of independence, a tool for safe mobility and a visible reminder of the right of persons with visual impairments to navigate their environments with dignity and confidence. It represents the courage to move forward, the freedom to make independent choices and the right to participate fully in society.
Yet, despite the importance of the white cane, many blind and visually impaired people continue to encounter inaccessible roads, unsafe pedestrian crossings, obstructed walkways, inadequate mobility support, negative attitudes and limited opportunities. These barriers are not caused by blindness alone; they are often created by environments and systems that fail to accommodate everyone.
FCRPD therefore calls on every sector of society to turn the celebration of this day into meaningful action.
1. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT
Government has a fundamental responsibility to protect the rights, safety and dignity of persons with visual impairments.
We call on the Government of The Gambia, through the relevant ministries, departments, agencies and local authorities, to:
Develop, implement and enforce policies and laws that protect the rights of blind and visually impaired persons and promote their full inclusion.
Invest in accessible roads, safe pedestrian crossings, properly designed pavements, audible traffic signals where appropriate, and accessible public transport.
Ensure that public buildings, schools, hospitals, courts, government offices and other essential facilities are accessible to persons with visual impairments.
Support the provision of white canes, orientation and mobility training, assistive technologies and accessible information.
Promote inclusive education, equal employment opportunities and meaningful participation in public decision-making.
Allocate adequate resources to disability inclusion and ensure that persons with disabilities and their representative organisations participate in decisions that affect their lives.
Accessibility must not be treated as charity or an optional service. It is an essential part of equality, human rights and responsible governance.
2. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC
Every member of the public has a role to play in making our communities safer and more inclusive.
FCRPD urges motorists, commercial drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians to recognise the importance of the white cane and exercise care around people who use it.
We encourage the public to:
Drive carefully and give blind pedestrians sufficient time and space to cross safely.
Never obstruct pavements and walkways with vehicles, building materials, merchandise or other objects that may create hazards.
Ask before providing assistance instead of grabbing, pulling or pushing a blind person unexpectedly.
Offer clear verbal directions when assistance is requested and identify nearby hazards when appropriate.
Challenge harmful stereotypes, discrimination and attitudes that portray blindness as an inability to contribute to society.
Respect the independence, choices and dignity of persons with visual impairments.
A simple act of consideration can prevent an accident, while a careless act can put someone’s life at risk.
3. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
Our communities must be places where everyone can live, move and participate safely.
FCRPD calls on traditional leaders, religious leaders, community development committees, neighbourhood associations, youth groups and community volunteers to champion disability awareness and inclusion.
Community leaders should encourage residents to keep public pathways clear, report dangerous infrastructure, support persons who need mobility assistance and challenge discriminatory practices.
Schools, learning institutions and community centres should also educate children and young people about blindness, the use of white canes, respectful assistance and the importance of inclusion.
No person should be isolated, excluded or prevented from participating in community life because of a visual impairment.
4. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND DISABILITY ORGANISATIONS
Civil society organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities, human rights groups and development partners have an important role in advancing the rights of blind and visually impaired people.
We encourage these organisations to strengthen public education, advocate for accessible infrastructure, support mobility training, promote inclusive programmes and hold relevant institutions accountable for their commitments.
Organisations must also ensure that persons with visual impairments are not merely invited to participate but are actively involved in leadership, programme design, implementation and evaluation.
Nothing about persons with disabilities should be decided without their meaningful participation.
Collaboration between disability organisations, government, communities and development partners is essential to building a society where independence and inclusion become everyday realities.
5. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMPANIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Businesses and companies must recognise that disability inclusion is both a human rights responsibility and an important part of sustainable development.
FCRPD calls on employers, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, transport operators, construction firms, shopping centres, hotels and other private businesses to:
Make workplaces, business premises and customer service facilities accessible.
Provide equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with visual impairments.
Ensure that websites, mobile applications, digital services and customer information are accessible to people using screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Support the availability and affordability of assistive devices, including white canes and related mobility services.
Incorporate accessibility into the design of buildings, roads, products and services from the beginning.
Invest in disability-inclusive corporate social responsibility initiatives and partner with organisations working to advance disability rights.
Persons with visual impairments are not merely beneficiaries of development. They are employees, entrepreneurs, consumers, professionals, leaders and valuable contributors to national progress.
A business environment that excludes people because of disability fails to recognise their abilities, potential and economic contribution.
6. OUR MESSAGE TO PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
On this important day, FCRPD celebrates your strength, determination, achievements and contributions to our families, communities and nation.
Your visual impairment does not diminish your worth, your intelligence, your talents or your right to dream and achieve.
You deserve access to quality education, decent employment, healthcare, justice, accessible information, safe transportation and equal opportunities to participate in every aspect of life.
We encourage persons with visual impairments to continue advocating for their rights, seeking opportunities, sharing their experiences and participating in decisions that shape their future. We also recognise the importance of access to appropriate mobility training, assistive technology and support services that promote independent living.
Above all, society must move away from pity and towards respect, from exclusion towards inclusion, and from promises towards practical action.
7. OUR COMMITMENT AS FCRPD
The Foundation for the Civic Rights of Persons with Disabilities remains committed to promoting disability rights, public awareness, accessibility, equality and the full participation of persons with disabilities in The Gambia.
We believe that a society cannot claim to be inclusive while its streets remain unsafe, its public services inaccessible, its workplaces discriminatory and its citizens unaware of the rights of persons with disabilities.
As we commemorate World White Cane Safety Day, we call for stronger collaboration among government institutions, local authorities, communities, civil society organisations, companies, development partners and the general public to remove barriers and create an environment where blind and visually impaired people can live with independence, security and dignity.
Let this day be more than a celebration. Let it be a call to action.
Let us build streets that are safer, institutions that are more accessible, workplaces that are more inclusive and communities that respect the rights and dignity of every person.
Let us remember that the measure of an inclusive society is not how it treats only those who face no barriers, but how it ensures that everyone has a fair opportunity to participate and succeed.
A SPECIAL CALL TO ACTION FOR THE GAMBIA
As we commemorate World White Cane Safety Day, the Foundation for the Civic Rights of Persons with Disabilities (FCRPD) calls on the Government of The Gambia, the National Assembly, local government authorities, traditional and religious leaders, private companies, civil society organisations and every Gambian to take concrete steps towards building a safer, more accessible and inclusive nation for persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Our call to action is clear: disability inclusion must move beyond promises and awareness campaigns to practical action, adequate funding and measurable results.
We call on the Government of The Gambia to strengthen the implementation of national disability rights commitments, improve access to public infrastructure and services, and ensure that persons with visual impairments are meaningfully included in policies and decisions affecting their lives. We urge the relevant ministries and public institutions to prioritise accessible roads, pedestrian crossings, public buildings, schools, hospitals, transport services and government offices.
We call on the National Assembly to exercise its legislative and oversight responsibilities to advance disability rights, promote accessible public infrastructure and ensure that the concerns of persons with visual impairments receive the attention they deserve.
We call on local government authorities, including municipal and area councils, to ensure that pavements and pedestrian routes are kept free from obstructions, dangerous construction materials, improperly parked vehicles and other hazards. Urban planning and community development must consider the mobility and safety needs of blind and visually impaired people from the outset.
We call on the police, traffic authorities, commercial drivers, transport operators and all road users to exercise greater caution around pedestrians using white canes. Road safety education must include the rights and needs of blind pedestrians, and traffic environments must be designed to reduce preventable risks.
We call on schools, universities and training institutions to promote inclusive education, provide accessible learning materials and ensure that students with visual impairments can participate fully in academic and extracurricular activities.
We call on Gambian businesses and companies to make their premises, websites, digital platforms and services accessible, employ qualified persons with visual impairments without discrimination, and invest in disability-inclusive corporate social responsibility initiatives.
We call on religious leaders, traditional authorities, community leaders and the media to help dismantle harmful stereotypes about blindness, promote respect and educate the public about the white cane as a symbol of independence, dignity and equal rights.
We call on civil society organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities and development partners to strengthen collaboration, support access to white canes and orientation and mobility training, and hold duty-bearers accountable for their commitments.
Most importantly, we call on every Gambian to recognise that a person using a white cane is a fellow citizen with equal rights, aspirations, talents and potential. Offer assistance respectfully, keep walkways clear, challenge discrimination and support the right of every person to move freely and safely.
FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION
FCRPD urges all relevant stakeholders to use this year’s observance as an opportunity to develop practical commitments, identify accessibility barriers, consult persons with visual impairments and establish clear steps for addressing the challenges they face in their daily lives.
We further encourage the Government and relevant stakeholders to work with organisations of persons with disabilities to promote regular accessibility assessments, public education on white cane safety and stronger coordination on disability inclusion throughout The Gambia.
The Gambia we aspire to build must be a Gambia where blindness does not mean exclusion, where the white cane is respected, where public spaces are safe, and where every citizen can exercise their rights with dignity and independence.
Let us make this commitment real in Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama, the other urban centres and communities throughout the length and breadth of our country.
A more inclusive Gambia begins with our collective responsibility. The time for action is now.
Happy World White Cane Safety Day!
Together, let us build a safer, more accessible and inclusive Gambia where persons with visual impairments can move freely, live independently and enjoy their full human rights.
Issued by:
The Foundation for the Civic Rights of Persons with Disabilities (FCRPD)
Disability Rights Matter.
Accessibility Is a Right. Inclusion Is Everyone’s Responsibility.
