CIVICUS speaks with Andrew Sharpe, president of the Authentic Caribbean Foundation (ACF) and the newly formed Caribbean Disability Network, about civil society work for disability rights in the Caribbean.
Around a billion people – 15 per cent of the world’s population – live with disabilities, making them the world’s largest minority. The ACF, established in 2012, works to improve the lives of people with disabilities across the Caribbean. In October 2024, it organised the first Caribbean Disability Conference in Grenada, bringing together regional leaders, policymakers and advocates. The event led to the formation of the Caribbean Disability Network, fostering cross-country collaboration and contributing to significant policy changes, including Belize’s comprehensive Disability Act, passed in December 2024.
