JONAPWD Anambra State Chapter has kick-started advocacy for the implementation of Disability Rights Law (DRL 2018) and the Inclusive State and Local Government Budgeting by Justice Service providers/relevant MDAs.
The chairman of JONAPWD In Anambra State, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke while delivering briefing in an advocacy visit to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters Barrister Chukwuka Ezewuzie at Office of the Governor on Disability Matters, enumerated the issues in focus for the visit as they relate to Office of the Governor on Disability Matters as follows:
1) To advice His Excellency on the need for the establishment of Disability Rights Commission. Section 3(11).ASDRL 2018
2) To advice His Excellency on his responsibilities as stipulated in sections 5,9(2),15 and 23(7) of ASDRL 2018.
3) To ensure that no approval shall be given for plan of public building if it does not make provision for accessibility facilities. Section 23(5b) of ASDRL 2018 as a member of Bureau of Public of Procurement in the state.
4) To provide persons with disabilities with pro-bono lawyers without conditions who will defend them against harmful treatments and discriminations.Section 20 of ASDRL 2018 as the Director of Disability and Human Right Services.
He also expressed his optimism that the executive Governor of Anambra state who has been favorably disposed on the issues affecting the disability community will not allow any state in the South East to over take him and he went further to outline the activities to be carried out in the project as follows:
I) Sensitization workshop for JONAPWD members on key provision of the Disability Right Law 2018.
ll) Advocacy visit to the identified Service Providers and Relevant MDAs.
Ill) Sensitization meeting with Justice and Support Service Providers/Relevant MDAs.
IV) Data Collection/ Analysis Reporting.
V) Advocacy visits to Local Government Transition Chairmen or Budget Officers.
VI)Results Tracking Workshop to track results and what Service Providers and Relevant MDAs have done differently as a result of JONAPWD advocacy.
Responding to the Advocacy issues raised, Barrister Chukwuka Ezewuzie disclosed that His Excellency has formally asked the Attorney General of the State to advise him on his responsibilities towards the setting of the Disability Rights Commission in the state.
He stated that setting up the Disability Right Commission will be one of the legacy projects of the governor which he will not want someone else to take the glory for what he has done for persons with Disabilities in the state.
He re-emphasized that Governor Willie’s vision is to make sure that every onye Anambra with Disability live like a standard American with disability.
Ezewuzie added “Anambra still remain the only state in the South-east to have signed the Disability Rights Law and working towards the implementation of it in all sector.”
He noted that Governor Obiano has set up an exco- ad-hoc committee to study, research and advance process of procuring assistive devices/ equipment for persons with visual and hearing impairments in Anambra State.
He appreciated Mr President Buhari for signing the Disability Right Act and setting up of the Commission recently for the full implementation of the law.
Barrister Ezewuzie thanked the Coordinator ROLAC team Anambra for their numerous efforts towards the implementation of DRL and the European Union for promoting and funding the project.
He equally charged the Advocacy Team to take the sensitization message to the grassroot by involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, town union leaders and chairmen of local governments. He ask them to also remember to tell them that Sign language is real and a language everybody should learn to ease communication with the deaf Community.
Miss Victoria Okonkwo in her vote of thanks appreciated SPAD for all his efforts to better the lives of Persons with Disabilities and said that through him the Deaf Community has been given a voice through his introduction and making available sign interpreters to ease communication.
High points of the visit was the presentation of the Advocacy Brief to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters.