Disability leaders in Anambra State have called for stronger and more deliberate measures to prevent gender-based violence (GBV), abuse and exploitation against persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls.
The call was made by the Anambra State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) during a stakeholder dialogue on preventing gender-based violence and strengthening community protection for persons with disabilities in Awka, the state capital.
The dialogue, themed, “From Complaint to Deliberate Action: Defining Disability Inclusion for Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Community Protection,” was supported by ActionAid and brought together key stakeholders to examine gaps in the prevention and response to GBV involving persons with disabilities.
Speaking at the event, JONAPWD Anambra State Chairman, Okeke Ugochukwu Ernest, urged disability leaders to move beyond reacting to reported cases of abuse and take deliberate steps to prevent violence before it occurs.
Okeke stressed the importance of empowering persons with disabilities with adequate information about their rights and establishing safe, accessible channels for reporting abuse without fear, shame or stigma.
“We must create an environment where a person who reports violence is believed, supported, protected and properly referred, not blamed, silenced or abandoned,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, healthcare providers, justice institutions, civil society organisations and community leaders to develop accessible and responsive systems for preventing and responding to GBV.
According to him, disability inclusion must be incorporated into government policies and programmes from the planning stage rather than being treated as an afterthought.
“Persons with disabilities must not be an afterthought in GBV prevention and protection programmes,” Okeke said, calling for their inclusion in planning, budgeting, awareness campaigns, reporting mechanisms, referral systems and community protection strategies.
He further urged disability leaders to strengthen community awareness, reporting and referral mechanisms while taking greater ownership of efforts aimed at preventing gender-based violence.
Also speaking, the Muslim Co-Chairman on GBV in Anambra, Alhaji Sheriff Olanrewaju, expressed concern over the heightened vulnerability of women and girls with disabilities to violence and abuse.
Olanrewaju said women and girls with disabilities face “ten times” the risk of GBV, citing factors such as dependence on caregivers, mobility challenges and communication barriers.
He called on the government to investigate and regulate traditional practitioners allegedly linked to abuse, while urging authorities to improve access to justice for persons with hearing and communication disabilities.
He particularly advocated wider use of sign language to enable deaf persons to report cases of abuse and participate effectively in justice and protection processes.
The Acting Head of the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Jane Ajaegbu, and ActionAid Focal Person, Perpetual Nwakelundu, pledged stronger collaboration with JONAPWD to advance disability-inclusive approaches to preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
The dialogue attracted government officials, representatives of the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, civil society organisations, religious leaders, security agencies and JONAPWD coordinators from the state’s 21 local government areas.
Participants adopted action plans committing LGA coordinators and cluster leaders to prevent, protect, report, refer, follow up and demand accountability in cases involving persons with disabilities.
They also resolved to challenge attempts to use disability as a justification for violence, exploitation, discrimination or exclusion.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to building safer and more inclusive communities where persons with disabilities can live with dignity and equality and have access to protection, justice and support without discrimination.
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