The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called on government agencies and stakeholders to prioritize the implementation and enforcement of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (DAPWDP) 2018.
The centre made the call in a statement signed by the Acting Director of CCD, Mr Godwin Unumeri, on Thursday in Lagos, to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the passage of the Act.
Unumeri described the Act as a landmark achievement in the fight for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
According to the statement, the law was passed in 2018 for the integration of PWDs into society, maximum protection and respect for their rights, as well as rights to equal treatment accessibility, and participation in all aspects of society.
However, despite this progress, awareness of the Act and its provisions remains limited, hindering its full implementation.
Unumeri noted that though significant strides had been made in the protection and promotion of PWD rights, more work still needed to be done to ensure the full implementation of the Act, particularly as the five-year compliance moratorium had expired.
He added that CCD had planned a series of events with the theme “Advancing Disability Rights: Reflecting, Celebrating, and Renewing Our Commitments to Inclusion” aimed at increasing public awareness of the Act.
The director also noted that the campaign would also celebrate the progress made in the past six years while calling for further action in accelerating the implementation of the Act.
“We also seek to engage all relevant stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and the private sector, in advancing inclusive policies and practices that support PWDs.
“This includes promoting greater community support for disability inclusion, improving accessibility, and ensuring the active participation of PWDs in decision-making processes,” he asserted.
Unumeri further urged relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as the private and public sectors, to ensure that PWDs had rights to accessible physical structures.
Others include inclusive education, employment opportunities, transportation systems, healthcare services, and safety in all situations of risk.
He called for more collaboration among the government, private sector, and organizations of persons with disabilities to establish and implement inclusive policies and also provide training for personnel on disability inclusion.
Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. Click Here