COLLABORATING CSOs CALLS ON STATE GOVERNMENT TO DOMESTICATE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITION ACT.
"Collaborating CSOs have called upon Benue State Government to as a matter of urgency domesticate the Disability Act of 2018 as well as provide credible institutional guidelines that will ensure the full implementation of the Violence against Persons Prohibition Law of Benue
Mtemdoo Gbagyo
According to UN Women, It is estimated that one in five women live with a disability . Women with disabilities experience various types of impairments including physical, psychosocial, intellectual, and sensory conditions that may or may not come with functional limitations. In addition, the diversity of women with disabilities includes those with multiple and intersecting identities across all contexts, such as ethnic, religious, and racial backgrounds; their status as refugee, migrant, asylum-seekers and internally displaced women; age; marital status; and living with or being affected by HIV.
Against this backdrops, women and girls with disabilities are often pushed to the extreme margins and experience profound discrimination and stigmatization. This can lead to lower economic and social status; increased risk of violence and abuse, including sexual violence; gender-based discriminatory practices; and limited access to education, health care (including sexual and reproductive health), information, services, justice, as well as civic and political participation.
These barriers hinder their full and effective participation across the humanitarian-development continuum, including during pandemic and in post-conflict and transition settings.
To help women in Benue with disabilities Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative(HAPI) collaborating with Strength in Disability Initiative (SDI) Organizations dedicated to the rights of women and persons with disabilities in effort to drive the work of achieving full inclusion in society on an equal basis with others,closing gaps in alliances and a lack of access to information on how to seek help and breaking the barriers of culture of silence organized a One day capacity building for young women with disabilities in Benue
Recognizing that gender-neutral approaches to disability inclusion perpetuate discrimination and vulnerability, the lead Facilitator and Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers also known as FIDA Benue Mrs PRISCA ULA, ESQ stated that the UN Women, European Union and other implenting partners have all made concerted efforts to promote disability inclusion and gender equality, including by establishing and strengthening partnerships and contributing to amplifying the voices of women and girls with disabilities. Active participation of and consultations with women with disabilities and their representative organizations have informed gender equality and disability–inclusive action at all levels. In 2017, to strengthen institutionalization of its work in this area, UN Women established an internal Global Task Team on Disability and Inclusion and a dedicated Disability Inclusion Community of Practice to support the development and implementation of UN Women’s corporate strategy on the issue. She stressed that there is need therefore for women including those with disabilities to speak out when abused, so as to break the culture of silence to enable security agencies bring perpetrators to justice.
Also speaking on the human right dimension as it relates to women with disabilities Joseph Mtemdoo Gbagyo a Frontline advocate for the rights of persons disabilities said….. “human rights are inalienable rights that are naturally and legally given as such, women with disabilities have equal rights just as any other person, and such right ranging from right to life, liberty, acquisition of property, etc are quite sacrosanct therefore, women with disabilities should speak so as to get help ” He stated further that women with disability whose rights have been violated can seek help through Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), National human right Commission, or approach professional bodies like FIDA, the human right desk of Nigerian Bar Association or report such violations to security agencies.
In their separate remarks the Executive Director of HAPI and SDI Faith Yaasa and Aver… opined that to give voice to and enable equal representation of women with disabilities, the Benue State Government and other State of the Federation must strives to ensure their active participation in intergovernmental meetings and consultative processes. Individuals, Corporate organizations as well as government at all levels must engage in several inter-agency and multi-stakeholder mechanisms to promote the inclusion of the rights of women and girls with disabilities and while developing policy and accountability framework on disability inclusion.
They equally call on the Benue State Government to as a matter of urgency domesticate the Disability Act of 2018 as well as provide credible institutional guidelines that will ensure the full implementation of the Violence against Persons Prohibition Law of Benue State. While inter-agency joint programmes on intersectionality, anti-discrimination, and disability-inclusive COVID-19 responses should also be strengthened.
Highlight of the one day capacity building is the development of communique and distribution of advocacy materials to participants.
