By Izang Bala Bulus, TQM Correspondent, Jos
The Network for Women with Disabilities on Wednesday, the 28th of July in Jos, Plateau State organized a one day interactive session on the experiences of Women with Disabilities in situations of insecurity on the Plateau.
The session took place at the premises of the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission.
The Coordinator, North -Central, Network for Disabled Women (NDW), Hon. Kyennan John Mizim, who is also the Chairperson Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, welcomed the participants in her capacity as the Coordinator of North Central of Network for Disabled Women, she encouraged the participants to feel free to share the experiences.
Also present to welcome the participants, is the Secretary, Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, Mr. Karl Gurumyen.
The interactive program have its objectives as:
- To get first hand information from the participants experience with regards to insecurity that has befalls the Nation.
- Secondly, to documents these experiences shared by the participants with the view to having good solution to them, and
- Thirdly, is to agreed on the next line of steps to be taken.
The Coordinator, North -Central of Network For Disabled Women, in an interview with TQM, said, that the campaign is found in all the 36 states in Nigeria including FCT, and the campaign is “SECURE OUR LIVES ” which was organized in 13 states, being a forerunner to another of its kind coming up, by Gods grace, sometime in August. She added, that, the participants of the program are drawn from various works of life from Jos and its environment. But the subsequent one coming up in August will have women from other violent affected areas of the Plateau state.
Some of the participants that shared their experience includes:
Halima Sale, a 23 years Lady with physical disability who said that due to insecurity in her area, she finds it difficult to move around in the very community she stays, because of fear of harassment and intimidation targeted at women with disabilities, In the form of sexual and other physical abuses.
Machit Sambo a Deaf lady said that she was taken to Cameroon by someone, where she was abused in several ways. But later escaped to Chad, there she met some good Nigerians who helped her and brought back to Nigeria.
Rose Wrong Dantong, a blind lady, narrated the violence that lead to the killing of her beloved grandfather, Mr. Datong in 2011 and that of her Uncle, late senator Gyang Dantong in 2012, which have affected her emotionally.
Another blind lady narrated the crises that lead to the violent killing of her guardian which created an imbalance in her, emotionally and economically. As she now find it difficult to feed and pay for her education.
Lucy Mai-lafiya, a lady with albinism, said that God saved her from a bullet that shot towards her direction during crises, her friend pinned her head down on time, the bullet passed and hit the person behind her.
Mrs. Patricia Gyang, a 50 years old Deaf woman told the story of a Deaf couple whose son was kidnap at the Bethel school kidnapping. With a ransome demand of about N300,000.00. And they have no means of making the payment. But glory be to God. The son was among the 28 released.
The interaction session gave possible solution as follows:
A. Community policing should be re- in forced.
B. Persons with Disabilities should be security conscious In their environments.
C. Stakeholders and other should help in training persons with Disabilities on safety security measures.
D. Government and other Stakeholders should provide accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Next Steps of Action:
- Create more awareness amongst persons with disabilities.
- Increase the number of participants in programs like this.
- Stepping down the campaign. And,
- Pay an advocacy visits to Plateau state House of Assembly.
Ms. Miyausa Wayuta Mshelia, a Auditor with Network for Disabled Women thanked the organizers of the program, Network for Disabled Women, The Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, The Coordinator, North -Central, Hon. Kyennan John Mizim, The Secretary, Plateau state Disability Rights Commission, Mr. Karl Gurmiyen and other persons that make the program possible, there by giving women with Disabilities on the Plateau, the opportunity to come together to discuss the matter of security as it affects women with disabilities.
Some Pictures Of The Event
