Voice Of Disability Initiative (VDI) has called on Nasarawa Government to prioritize Women With Disabilities In The Implementation Of 5percent Employment Opportunity for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
Barrister Catherine Edeh, the Executive Director, VDI made this call during an Advocacy visit to Office of The Chairman of Nasarawa State Civil Service Commission On Wednesday 23rd August 2023.
In her speech, she said that the advocacy visit was part of the activities of a project of the organization on advancement of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls with disabilities in Nasarawa State funded by Disability Rights Fund (DRF) an international development organization headquartered in Boston USA and committed in advancing inclusion and rights of people with disabilities around the world.
She stated the purpose of the visit which is to form a working collaboration and get the buy-in of the commissioner on implementing the 5% employment slot provided by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, and also ensuring that women with disabilities are priority beneficiaries in the implementation, as a way of enabling them to be economically and financially empowered to take care of their sexual and reproductive health needs, and fight off sexual exploitations, harassment, abuse, rape and other vices that they are exposed to on daily basis as a result of hunger, extreme lack and struggles to feed and stay alive.
Speaking further, she said that the inability of women with disabilities to provide for themselves or have sustainable source of income increases chances of them being exploited, trafficked, abused, raped, harassed, dehumanized, and enslaved, just so they can have a little to eat.
She also spoke about the defect in the law believed to be the Nasarawa State Disability Rights Law.
It was indicated by the Nasarawa State Disability Rights Commission, and urging the State to revisit, review and amend the law to truly capture rights and sanctions when violated among others.
In his response, Hon Musa Dangan Giza the Chairman of the Commission reiterated the commitment and dedication of the state government on issues relating to people with disabilities, notified the team of how the Commission has been standing up to the cause of women with disability through one of them who is a woman with disability and appointed as Senior Assistance to the governor on Disability during Governor Abdullahi A. Sule’s first tenure, Hon Mrs. Hadiza Daret Kasimu to ensure women with disabilities are not left behind in employment processes by the Commission.
He further encouraged us to bring the issue of the defects traced in the Disability Law to the knowledge of the State House of Assembly for necessary actions. He ended by reiterating his commitment to do more for women with disabilities in the State.
Also present at the meeting was the Permanent Secretary of the Commission alongside directors/commissioners.
The team also visited the office of the 1st Lady of Nasarawa State Hajiya Silifat Sule, who was not in the office during the office. The team met and was attended to by the of the Secretary to the 1st Lady who promised to report back to her.
