Women and girls face overlapping barriers
Boga-Garoau, co-chair of the national Assembly of Disabled Persons and the Pacific Disability Forum, and Booth highlighted violence against women and girls with disabilities. They also described barriers to jobs, education, healthcare and information. At the time, they said, a disability bill had undergone five years of consultations without reaching Parliament. [1]
The census becomes a planning tool
The UN’s subsequent report on its 2024 activities recorded completion of the national population census with support for the National Statistical Office. It described population size, distribution and demographics as information for government planning and resource allocation. The advocates’ earlier demand specifically concerned disability data meeting international standards. [2][1]
Parliament votes on disability legislation in 2025
On 31 July 2025, Parliament passed the Disability Services Bill by 67 votes to none. Introducing the bill, Community Development Minister Jason Peter linked it to years of consultations and called for funding and inclusive services in districts and provinces. [3]