by Chris Agbo
Persons With Disabilities Community of Practice (PWDs COP) has urged persons with disabilities to be more knowledgeable about disability issues and disability laws in order to challenge any violation of their rights.
This charge was made in a 2day Capacity Building Program organized by Persons with Disabilities Community of Practice with support from VOICE Nigeria and Cognito/Nine.
Barr. Tracy Onabis , Inclusive Friends Association IFA’s Program Officer while making a presentation on Discrimination against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 on Day One spoke on the extent of implementation of Disability Act, identified roles for different agencies.
She pointed out challenges facing the implementation which one of them is persons with disabilities being ignorant of the provisions of the Act and so doing, they can’t make demands of their rights.
She emphasized that disability rights are human rights and that persons with disabilities must be engaged from the rights-based perspective as subjects of enforceable human rights.
Favour Adjara, the leader, PWD COP told TQM that the PWD community of Practice is a VOICE NIgeria supported initiative that aim at strengthening the relationship among OPDs and other Civil Society Organizations that have same interest, and are working in the same sector or thematic areas to enhance their work through Creating awareness to Stakeholders and PWDs Rightholders for a better Inclusive and Accessible society for all in Nigeria.
Speaking further, she said that the two day program was a learning and sharing (Link&Learn) session that was targeted at Stakeholders organizations (duty bearers) and RightHolders (PWDs) organizations.
“I want to encourage everyone to embrace Inclusion and provide access in every areas for people with disabilities by using the “Discrimination Against Person with Disabilities prohibition Act as a guideline to ensure an inclusive and Accessible Society for All” she added.
A Participant, Aver Akighir, Executive Director, Hope Alive Possibilities Initiative (HAPI) told TQM that Cognito’s two day Capacity Building training is a welcome development because capacity building of rightholders is key in advocating for the implementation of the Disability Act. Rightholders are supposed to be in the fore front and they should know the right strategies to use. They should know how to interface with relevant stakeholders to get the much desired results.
“My take home was the identification of what is hindering the full implementation of the Disability Act and we were able to identify three areas, break them down, and trash them out in the different groups.
Speaking on how to apply the knowledge gained, Aver said that the disability act is already an existing law, she is going to use it for all her advocacy visits.
“A lot of stakeholders out there are not aware of this document. So it will be my duty to take it to their doorstep” she added.
Another participant, Maryann Okeke told TQM that what she got from the event is that as individuals and organizations, there is need to keep advocating for domestication of the disability act.
Again, sensitization of the public through the media and other innovative advocacy approaches as well as collaborating with civil organizations and OPDs in pushing our common issues.
She also emphasized on awareness creation in her social space for inclusion and equity.
A Participant, Vincent Okoye in sharing his experience about the event said that what stood out for him is strategic advocacy. “we have an organization and since last year, we are not doing much blaming it on lack of resources or funding, this capacity building gingered me fully to start something without further delays”.
Again, he said research on what one want to present during advocacy in order to deliver the key and main message to the stakeholder.
Speaking further he said that being strategic in advocacy also entails knowing when to apply any approach of advocacy.
“Knowing when to lobby and when to apply activism with control to avoid extremism”.
He also pointed out the issue of allies in advocacy, setting of goals and strategy of engagement allies and how to manage information gotten through allies or stakeholders.
Finally, he highlighted that knowing his roles towards implementation of disability act and again, terminologies to use and those not be used while referring to persons with disabilities.
The event with the theme: Implementation of the disability Act; Breaking Barriers and Creating Opportunities for people with Disabilities brought together stakeholders (MDAs) such as National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,, Civil Society groups like International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA,) Persons With Disabilities representing different Organizations of Persons With Disabilities (OPDs) from different part of Nigeria, it also cut across different clusters of disability.
The event witnessed interesting moment like presentations on relevant topics such as Understanding of Concept of Disability by Favour Adjara, Overview of The Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018/Validation of the simplified version by Barr. Tracy Onabis, Mainstreaming Accessibilities and inclusion in all programs by Dr. Chike Okogwu, The Concept of Strategic Advocacy by Mr. Funsho Olajide.
The event also witnessed Group work on Strategic Advocacy facilitated by Mr. Funsho Olajide and Panel Session on Implementation of the Disability Act anchored by Obinna Ekujereonye.
Voice/Oxfam represented by Cedric Owuru, Cognito Nine Representative, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), National Commission for Colleges of Education(NCCE), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), FIDA, and JONAPWD gave their goodwill messages.
