IFA Trains PWDs To Advocate On Gender Based Violence Against Women, Girls With Disability

Inclusive Friends Association, IFA has successfully conducted a 5-day training workshop for young Persons with Disabilities to advocate on gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities.

The programme which was titled, “Amplifying Voices: Building Young Persons with Disabilities to advocate on gender based violence against Women and Girls with Disability” was held at Kini hotel, Akwanga, LGA Nasarawa State.

Ms Grace Jerry, the Executive Director of the Organization, in her welcome address on the opening day of the event, thanked God for the safe arrival of all participants to the event. She however lamented how women with disabilities suffer and remain silent on the subject of Gender Based Violence.

She charged the advocates on the need to amplify their voices, and continue to embolden more women and girls with disabilities to speak up against any form of violence.

In her words, “Women with Disabilities are silent on Gender Based-violence because they fear withdrawal of assistance by the violator who, most times, is someone close to them. The inaccessibility to justice and redress is also another reason for their silence.

“We need you advocates to amplify your voices, continue to strengthen more women and girls with disabilities to speak up against any form of violence so that we can reach our goal of mitigating GBV in Nigeria”

She further added that “we have experts who are here to train you for the next five days. I have faith that you will all put what you learned into practical uses”

Meanwhile, on the second day of the training, a session was facilitated by Freky Andy, Executive Director, Facecare Foundation. Inclusive news Network, INN learnt the Facecare boss came from Port-Harcourt to address participants in the ongoing GBV fellowship for young PWD advocates.

Freky remarked that most incidents of Gender-Based violence are not reported to the police.

“Women and girls with Disabilities often have extremely low self-esteem; many fear that reporting incidents of abuse might lead to being abandoned, having their children taken away, losing financial support, care, and increased isolation”.

According to her, enlightenment through learning, mobilization of public support, training of power-holders, decision-makers and service providers would be much helpful in improving the situation.

At the program, advocates were also trained on understanding disability, disability based violence, types and models of disability etc. Relevant information was also shared on the impact of violence against women and girls with disabilities. Talks on the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Equity and Equality, how to manage and implement a project, understanding advocacy amongst others were delivered by expert- facilitators invited by the organization.

On the final day of the workshop, advocates were asked by Olawunmi Okupe (Mrs), Program officer of IFA to share their stories and itemize the projects they will like to engage in within 3-6 months of returning to their respective States.

Responses were both enthusiastic and encouraging.