Training of Police Disability Desk Officers on Disability Inclusion and Sign language interpretation is pertinent—Expert

Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, retired Commissioner of Police who was represented by CSP Moses Ebun Dada, an experienced police officer on Gender Issues on presenting a paper on the topic: Strengthening Law Enforcement Response on Gender Based Violence GBV against Deaf Women during the launch of Deaf Women Aloud Initiative’s new project on amplifying the rights of Deaf Women and Girls to Prevent And Respond to Gender Based Violence in The FCT gave some recommendations to enhance police enforcement of GBV against Deaf Women.

He suggested the following:

1. There should be more training of Disability Desk Officers in the police formations on Disability Inclusion
2. Police Officers should be trained on Sign Language Interpretation
3. There should be employment and deployment of sign language interpreters to all police divisions and courts
4. There should be greater interaction between the police and Deaf Women Associations
5. There should be review of previous cases and complaints instituted, commenced by or against Deaf Women.

He went ahead to suggest some collaborations to the police that would be helpful to Deaf Women and Girl justice delivery on GBV.

The Police should foster collaboration with civil society organization, judicial, political parties and government agencies.

You will recall that on Tuesday 9th February, 2022, Deaf Women Aloud Initiative with the support of Disability Rights Fund DRF launched a project to amplifying the rights of Deaf Women and Girls in a bid to respond to GBV against them.