NAN-H-133
Women
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, March 8, 2017 (NAN) The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has urged the press to focus on the situation of Nigerian women and girls with disabilities; as the world celebrates 2017 International Women’s Day.
A statement signed by David Anyaele, CCD Executive Director, on Wednesday in Abuja, noted “the pain and agony of Nigerian women and girls with disabilities has reduced their voice, a further exposure to vulnerability’’
“As such, only the media can trigger attitudinal change required to better the living conditions of Nigerian women with disabilities,’’ the he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Women’s Day is a day set aside by the United Nations (UN) to highlight the contributions, achievements and sacrifices of women in the society.
NAN also reports that it is also a day to reflect and acknowledge the challenges mothers, sisters and daughters go through in their efforts to contribute to socio-economic wellbeing of their families, communities and the nations in general.
This year’s theme is “Be Bold for Change’’.
“As we mark the Day, CCD is concerned about the situation of Nigeria women with disabilities, as it is estimated that more than 10 million Nigerian women are living with different forms of disabilities.
“Part of the challenges Nigerian women with disabilities face that may hinder them from being bold for change includes stigma, isolation, and exclusion by state and non-state actors.
“This is due to negative attitude of the society towards people with disabilities as religious leaders are also involved in this act of disability-based abuses,’’ he added.
Anyaele also expressed CCD concern that access to healthcare services for women with disabilities in Nigeria was becoming slimmer by the day.
“It is due to lack of accessible healthcare infrastructure as more than 99.5 per cent of healthcare centres in Nigeria are not accessible to Nigerian women with disabilities.
“CCD is also concerned that more than 99.5 per cent of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the federal and states levels which should be responsible for the rehabilitation of women with disabilities are not accessible,’’ he said.
The executive director further criticised the state and federal ministries of women affairs for failing to include issue of critical concern to Nigerian women with disabilities in their public statements and engagements.
“It is demoralising to note only five states (Plateau, Ekiti, Bauchi, Ondo and Lagos) have passed a legislation that protects women with disabilities from discrimination and harmful practices in Nigeria.
“It is also disheartening to note that NGOs and CSO’s that focus on women issues hardly include issues of critical concern to Nigerian women with disabilities in their narratives and interventions.
“Thereby encouraging discriminatory practices against women with disabilities,’’ he said.
According to him, it is due to limited legal frameworks to protect them from discrimination and harmful practices as section 42 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution, as amended, is silent on the discrimination on the grounds of disabilities.
“CCD calls on the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, to support Nigeria women with disabilities through accelerating all legislative processes on the Nigeria disability bill that has been passed by all the Chambers to facilitate transmission to the President for assent.
“CCD also calls on other states in the country that are yet to pass a disability laws to do so in order to protect their women with disabilities from all forms of disability-based violence,” he said. (NAN)
KM/DOR/AFA
Edited by Nyisom Dore/Felix Ajide