The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), an NGO, on Monday, in Abuja, called for the full implementation of the National Disability law, to protect the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Mr David Anyaele, Executive Director, CCD, made the call at the start of a one-week training programme for PWDs on shadow reporting, rights-based advocacy and outcome reporting.
The event was organised by CCD, in collaboration with the Disability Rights Fund, an organisation that supports activities of PWDs.
Anyaele said that the objective of the training was to strengthen participants’ understanding of treaty bodies mechanism and prepare PWDs with skills needed in sending in alternative reports.
“We are glad to train PWDs in particular organisations of PWDs on shadow reporting of the UN convention on the rights of PWDs.
“Nigeria has presented their report to the conference of state parties, the disability community wishes to present a shadow report on the true situation on the rights of PWDs.
“This is in order to inform the international community of areas for response and engagement with our government, to improve on the implementation of the UN convention on the rights of PWDs,’’ Anyaele said.
While expressing concern that PWDs had continued to face discrimination in the society, Anyaele stressed the need for the full implementation of the National Disability law.
According to him, only about 13 states in Nigeria have adopted the National Disability law, but we expect more states to adopt the law so as to improve the quality of lives of more than 31 million Nigerians living with disabilities.
“From our studies, the issues around PWDs has continued unabated as some line departments and agencies of government do not implement the discrimination against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act.
“As such, issues around employment of PWDs, their participation in government programmes and activities, as well as access to public infrastructures, have continued to remain unaddressed by state and non-state institutions.
“When there is no access to public infrastructure, attitude remains on the part of discrimination against PWDs and there are limited states that have laws on PWDs, the protection of PWDs from harmful practices becomes difficult,’’ Anyaele said.
Mr Theophilus Odaudu, Programme Officer, Nigeria Disability Rights Fund and Disability Rights Advocacy Fund, said the training would enable PWDs report on how their rights were violated and how state governments were making commitments to protect them on equal basis with others
“This is the key gap the training is addressing.
“We have organisations that are being funded by Disability Rights Fund to acquire this skill and we will equally be enhancing the capacity of PWDs on impact tracking.
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“This is to see where they have made successes, challenges and how to monitor, track, and also report in order to enhance state and non-state actors’ response to issues of PWDs in Nigeria.
“We are training the organisations on the processes of engaging with the UN treaty bodies, especially the committee on the rights of PWDs
“This is in a bid to enable them write and submit alternative reports, to the initial report Nigeria has submitted.
“That is the only way they can hold the country accountable, ask questions they ordinarily couldn’t ask and get the committee to also get the full perspective of what is on ground.
“This will also enable the committee get the country to make amendments to ensure that the rights of PWDs are respected and protected.
Odaudu harped on the need for political will to effectively implement the National Disability law.
“It is about the political will and getting people who really have the interest of PWDs at heart
“We need more people in government, people in positions that really feel what PWDs feel to be able to engage with them.
“That is why we advocate that PWDs should be given leadership positions, because there is nothing for us without this,’’ he added.
Ms Milicatier Sakala, Regional Head of Programmes for Africa, Disability Rights Fund and Disability Rights Advocacy Fund, expressed determination to continue to support the cause of PWDs in Nigeria.
According to her, we see this as very important because for PWDs it is a right as provided for in article 33 of the UN convention on the rights of PWDs.
“The voice of PWDs is supposed to be represented at all levels of reporting,’’ She said.
