Stakeholders in Bauchi State have called for the establishment of a Persons with Disabilities Commission to strengthen the protection, inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in the state.
The stakeholders, comprising disability rights activists, legal experts, media professionals, religious and community leaders, made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement held on Wednesday in Bauchi.
The engagement was organised in collaboration with Plan International (PI), Ikra Foundation for Women and Youth Development (IFWYD), and the Canadian Government to deliberate on the proposed Bauchi State Persons with Disabilities Commission Law.
Speaking at the event, Head of Programme, Plan International, Mr Ismael Umar, said the engagement was aimed at providing stakeholders with an opportunity to examine the proposed legislation and contribute to strengthening its provisions.
Umar said the proposed law would provide an important framework for promoting the rights, inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in governance and community development.
He also highlighted the critical role of the media in the implementation of the law, describing it as an important platform for public education, awareness creation, advocacy and accountability.
According to him, responsible journalism would help the public understand the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as the responsibilities of government and other stakeholders towards ensuring their inclusion.
Also speaking, Assistant Programme Manager, IFWYD, Rukaiyat Othman, stressed that the effective implementation of any legislation was as important as its enactment.
“Enacting a law is only the beginning, while the real work lies in ensuring its practical enforcement,” she said.
Othman urged the media to play a stronger role in promoting accountability and ensuring that disability-related laws were not neglected after enactment.
She also called for the use of respectful, accurate and non-stigmatising language in reporting disability issues, while encouraging journalists to amplify the voices and experiences of persons with disabilities.
Othman further advocated skills training programmes for persons with disabilities to equip them with vocational skills, promote self-reliance and improve their social and economic wellbeing.
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