DRAC Concludes Marathon Activism on SGBV, Launches Handbook on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

By Abubakar Mumbu, Abuja

Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) joined the global community to conclude the 16-day activism to stop Gender-Based Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities. The activism which started on 25 November, ended yesterday. This year’s global theme was “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect”.

For this year’s commemoration, DRAC organized her 4th Annual We are Women Too Convening – an annual gathering of women leaders and activists from mainstream women’s rights groups and the disability community, to push for cohesion and collaboration in their agendas and programs. The theme of the event which took place at Denis Hotel, Wuse II, Abuja was “The Intersections of Exclusion: Addressing Sexual Gender Based Violence and Disability”. Speakers and representatives from various bodies spoke at the event. The event was also meant to mark the International day of PWDs and International Human Rights Day.

In her opening remark, the Executive Director of DRAC, Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu welcomed the participants to the event and gave a brief address on SGBV against PWDS, highlighting the importance of the event as one that would give voice to survivors of SGBV especially those with disabilities and give them a platform to engage with SGBV service providers. She thanked VOICE Nigeria for the support to the cause.

Dr. Toyin Aderemi, Disability Advisor, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Disability advisor, and a contributor to the development of the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) handbook for women and girls with disabilities, in her keynote address, noted that women and girls with disabilities face double discrimination, which is gender and disability oriented and that they are two to three times more prone to sexual violence than their non-disabled peers.

Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, representative of the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWDs), thanked DRAC for a job well done in a statement of solidarity and conveyed the appreciation and support of the Executive Secretary who was unavoidably absent.

“We are proud of the work DRAC and her partners are doing for Persons with Disabilities, especially for our women and girls. The NCPWD want to let you know that we will work hand in hand with DRAC and other partner Organizations to make sure we promote the rights of PWDs, especially women and girls with disabilities.”

Speaking further, he said “We know that gender-based violence is common in Nigeria and the victims are mostly women and girls with disabilities. Very soon we will have enforcement and complaint department which we hope to make popular so anyone who suffers gender-based violence can report to us. We will do everything possible to make sure women and the girl child get justice”

A representative from the Nigerian Police Force, Mrs. Ciroma, said that the Nigerian Police was ready to stop sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

In her words, ” I want to tell you that the Nigeria Police is ready to stop sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria, and I want to tell you that any complaints that you report to the police, we will make sure the culprit is brought to justice. So please, let’s break the silence, we are not cooperating with wrong doers. No, because we don’t want that in Nigeria”.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), SGBV Unit, was represented by Mr Gabriel Onile. In his address, Onile stated that NAPTIP has been at the fore-front in the fight against SGBV. He enlightened his listeners on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) and encouraged them to appropriate it.

He reiterated the need for women and girls who are sexually violated to report to appropriate agencies or NGOs like DRAC, without fear.

Other CSOs and OPDs present also gave their solidarity messages applauding and pledging support for DRAC’s work.

A presentation was delivered by Barr. Tsema Okoye on the impact of SGBV on survivors with disability, mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attempted suicide.

Highlights of the event was the Parliament and the launching of a handbook on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) for women and girls with Disabilities. There was also a dance drama presentation by young social activists using art to promote awareness on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and its effect.

At the parliamentary discussion, moderated by Bukky Williams, Executive director, EVA, there was questions and answers session between young women with disabilities and representatives of government ministries, departments and agencies. The discussion was based on the extent to which their agencies are tailoring their services and facilities to meet the needs of women and girls with disabilities who have experienced or are experiencing violence.

Examples of issues / questions raised by survivors and answered by service providers include: What are the first five steps to take when one is raped and are these steps the same for a woman who experienced domestic violence?

Are there clear-cut reporting mechanisms across our educational systems to protect learners, especially those with disabilities?