In marking this year 2021 International Women’s Day, The Perfect Peculiar Foundation, (PPF) an NGO located at Low cost Housing Estate Rantya Jos, Plateau state organized an interactive session for women with disabilities.
Patricia Pam, the executive Director of perfect Peculiar Foundation who is a wheelchair user in her speech said that the foundation is for persons with disability with a vision of a society that would see people with disability as human being first, having dignity and rights to full inclusion into every sphere of societal life. Advocacy backed by action in collaboration with other disability groups, with the view of promoting and protecting the very rights of persons with disability.
Pam stated that it is in line to this that the Foundation is celebrating this International Women day with women with disability.
“With the theme: CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE, we have chosen to challenge stereotype and discrimination that has limit our full participation in the society. We are therefore raising our voices together to ensure that women with disabilities are included in all aspect of our societal life, be it Politically, socially and economically. To us inclusion is key” she explained.
Speaking at the occasion on the topic, Smashing Stereotype and discrimination against Women with disability. The resource person, Jiritmwa M. Goyit said that women need to celebrate themselves every day for the love, care and accommodation they offer each day to humanity, whether they are women with disabilities or not.
But these same women who are blessed with natural goodness towards humanity, are being placed at a disadvantage position by the society. And until women deliberately choose to challenge these negative and false stereotypes and discrimination against women in general and women with disabilities in particular, women would continue to be subjected to hardship.
To correct these, Goyit gives some steps, among others that is needed to be taken by women themselves.
- Self-realization: a woman need to know who she is and her role in the society and to stand for it regardless of the way some people address her.
- Seek information: Education is good but information is better, it is when a women know, that she can defend herself.
- Seek for support.
- Reach out to others: both persons and organizations like Perfect Peculiar Foundation.
- Empower yourselves with the provisions of the constitution.
- Create awareness. Etc.
Some of the participants spoke with TQM, The chairperson of FIDA, Plateau state Chapter, Mrs. Mary Izam said that women are delighted to mark International women day because it is a day that gives recognition to women in all sphere of life. It is a day where women cry out for equality and gender opportunity in both public and private spaces. “It gives us opportunity to also create awareness to women who are not really aware of their rights especially women with disability, this day offers avenue to air their voices on challenges in area of accessibility like, education, employment, health care, and transportation among others. We together have a channel to join our voices to meet the need of women hood, especially that of women with disability by promoting, protecting and preserving their rights, which is part of FIDAs mandate”.
“We are therefore appealing to the government and the society to include women with disabilities in all aspects of activities to make impact in their lives and also to harness their potentials.
Esther Sunday, a lady with disability told TQM that this year’s celebration is special because women with disabilities have been carried along unlike in the past, where they are passive participants, despite their numerous challenges in education and employment. She hopes this will bring a positive turn around in lives of women with disabilities.
Ruth Joseph, a blind lady expressed her happiness to Perfect Peculiar Foundation (PPF) for organizing the International Woman day, a foundation headed by one of them, in person of Patricia pam.
The occasion witnessed the presences of
. Hon. Esther Simi Dusu.
Member plateau State House of Assembly, Representing Jos North- West.
. Mrs. Mary Izam.
The chairperson of FIDA. Plateau State Chapter.
. Bridget Dakyes.
Executive Director, Women and girl child Rescue Development.
. Women with disabilities, representing the different clusters. To mention but a few.
