A Non-Governmental Organisation Cedar Seed Foundation (CSF) has advocated for immediate implementation of Article 29 of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and section 30 of the Nigeria Disability Act 2018 by the federal, states and local governments in the country.
The Project Officer, Disability Inclusion in Governance of the Foundation, Comrade Shedrack Danladi, made the call on Thursday, during a rally and world press conference organised by the foundation in partnership with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, with funding support from the MacArthur Foundation, which held in Kagoro, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
Comrade Danladi explained that the call became necessary because of the lack proper implementation of the 2018 discrimination against persons with disabilities (prohibition) Act, clause 54 of the Electoral Act 2022.
This he noted, led to the continuous marginalisation of women in governance and underrepresentation in elections and political participation.
He reaffirmed the need for proactive measures to be taken to achieve and sustain the goal for inclusivity in electoral processes especially post 2023 elections and future elections.
The project officer lamented that despite the launched of a charter by Network of Women with Disabilities with WRAPA and MacArthur Foundation earlier in February this year, which contains 11 articles for key actors to implement; presently, women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria are at a zero percent level of participation in governance.
He however, called for the appointment of women with disabilities at all levels of government according to section 29 of the discrimination against persons with Disabilities prohibition Act, 2018, which states that minimum appointment of 5 percent quota for persons with Disabilities with emphasis on women.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen shortly after the press conference, the Chairman, Association of Persons with Disabilities in Southern Kaduna, Mr. Habila Achi, commended Cedar Seed Foundation for championing the cause of their members and appeal to those in leadership positions, to consider persons with Disabilities in their appointments because of the role they played during elections and for inclusivity.
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