Some civil society members and other stakeholders in Anambra state have implored the state government and private individuals to join hands to fast track full implementation of state Disability Rights Law which was signed into law by Governor Willie Obiano, on December 18, 2018.
The Law, Blueprint gathered, is a domesticated version of the United Nations (UN) universal declaration of human rights, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 23, 2019.
It was aimed at creating enabling environment for people with disabilities (PWDs) to live and fully participate in all aspects of life, enjoy equal access with ‘able persons’ on physical environment like banks, churches, public buildings, transportation, information and communications, employment, and others without any form of stigmatisation or threats.
Speaking at a two-day sensitisation workshop organised by Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) Anambra state chapter in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anticorruption (RoLAC) sponsored by European Union, His Honour, Princewill Iwuafor, president of customary court Agulu, said the law was not aimed at favouring the PWDs above others but to bring persons with disability at par with normal people and ensure parity among the citizenry.
Iwuafor also the law makes provisions for establishment of a commission to be known as Anambra State Disabilities Rights Commission which shall comprise of administration; social development, orientation and inclusion; legal services; monitoring and evaluation; and charged with the implementation of government policies in the law in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other disability matters.
Ms Ijeoma Anekwe, the executive director, gender perspective and social development centre, in a lecture, said both government and private individuals have roles to play as provided by the law, and urged JONAPWD to embark on advocacy targeted at influencing the legislators, judiciary, executive arms, companies, town unions, religious institutions and others to fully implement the law.
The National consultant and coordinator of the CSOs for RoLAC, Mrs Chibuogu Obinwa, expressed joy over the active participation of JONAPWD members in the sensitisation workshop, assuring that they would help them in finding solutions to their discomforts in public places like banks, churches, schools, and others.
The state coordinator, Rule of Law and Anti corruption (RoLAC), Mrs Josephine Onah, while presenting gazette Anambra state Disability Rights Law to the association, said they would relent to the push to fully implement the law and sensitise the public on its provisions.
“We hope to really satisfy the European Union (EU) and the disability community before our exit in 2021 as stipulated by the European Union (EU) and bring accolade to RoLAC for achieving much within the period. We will continue to partner with JONAPWD to drive home your needs,” she said.
Responding, the Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Disability matters, Barr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie, said, “The Governor said to me, Ezewuzie, let’s take care of the disabled in Anambra State so that other states would come to us and learn how to care for the disabled. The governor is set to establish a disability commission to enhance the benefits accrued to the disabled in Anambra State. It is the right of the disabled to be actively included in the policy making of the state.”
Earlier, the Anambra state chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, said the workshop was aimed at intimating members of the association on key provisions of the law, which include “right of first refusal in queues and emergencies to PWDs and condemn the act of using persons with disabilities for alms begging, and guarantees access to education, justice, employment, encourages our active participation in politics, cultural and public life issues.”
“We have developed an advocacy strategy, advocacy plan, identified the key players and service providers in the commission. All the various associations that make up JONAPWD including the association of lawyers with disabilities participated on the workshop. We are most grateful to Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) team in Anambra state for identifying and supporting JONAPWD Anambra state since early 2018 as one of their partners for EU 11th EDF National indicative program.”
