BY AHMED BARNABAS
Advocacy for Women With Disabilites Initiative AWWDI on Tuesday 18/04/2023 in Abuja trained Stakeholders in North Central as advocacy champions on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of Women and Girls With Disabilities.
Stakeholders within the zone including those from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were brought together to deliberate and their capacity built on SRHR of PWDs..
This engagement program was done in collaboration with WE LEAD with support from HIVOS.
Hajiya Monsurat Fasasi, the Cordinator, AWWDI FCT stated that, it is noteworthy that the AWWDI FCT, is a member afflicted to AWWDI headquarter with its objective to protect the rights of women and girls with Disabilities, to raise awareness about women and girls with disabilities and equally draw the attention of the governments, stakeholders and the general public to the plight of women and girls with disabilities through advocacy, rally, workshop and conferences.
She however noted that, AWWDI here in Abuja have line up series of interesting and educative activities that would make the programme a memorable one for a long time.
She said, despite global attention towards SRHR through United Nations Convention on the rights of PWDs (UNCRPD) which stipulated that government should guarantee access to SRHR of PWDs, yet PWDs are still denied access to health services especially sexual and reproductive health care. It is due to stigma and discrimination that women and girls with disabilities are suffering of rape, pregnancy abortion, violence and among others, she added.
She used the opportunity to call attentions of stakeholders, government agencies and OPDs to assist through advocacy.
“We should fight to stop these obstacles and improve access to positive goals”.
Roseline Migbole, a public relations officer at AWWDI, said that stakeholders should advocate and speak on the rights of PWDs on SRHR, and noted that as a stakeholder (MDAs), you are mandated to see issues of Sexual Reproductive Health of WGWDs as an emergency matter, so we need quick attention on these issues from all the MDAs.
She also said that “AWWDI is expecting stakeholders to take ownership and help to break the barriers facing Women and Girls With Disabilities in accessing SRHR Services.
She said, AWWDI are seeking collaboration with health service providers as major stakeholders (Ministry Of Health) and other critical stakeholders including relevant MDAs whose role is in line with SRHR Services, Justice, enforcement in achieving the goals.
She, however charged stakeholders to commence aggressive/strategic advocacy, taking over the media platforms with the message of SRHR inclusion, engaging stakeholders and MDAs on SRHR, speak out always on the issues of SRHR of WGWDs and form strong force or movement to demand for SRHR inclusion.
WUNMI LAOLU AKANDE from DISABILITY DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ANALYST in her presentation, make it clear that SRHR, are fundamental human right that are related to sexuality and reproductive. These allow people to make informed and meaningful decisions about their own sexual well-being.
Hence, people chose the relationship they desires, their sexual activity, when and who to have sex with, child spacing, family planning and bodily autonomy. PWDs as human being have the rights to exercise the above rights.
“As organizations, we are to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and her inherent dignity” she added.
A Representative of Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, E. A Adebayo spoke on the same matter of discussion and informed the meeting that DISABILITY DESK OFFICE has being created by Commandant General of NSCDC last November, 2022 to protect and enforce the rights of PWDs.
An app “NCPWDsFGN on Google, Play Store were people with special needs can login and lay their complain was introduced.
The Stakeholders at the training were representatives of relevant MDAs, Organizations of Persons With Disabilities (OPDs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Law enforcement agencies and the media.
