Cedar Seed Foundation has called for inclusion of women with disabilities in governance and decision makings
The foundation made the call at a press conference and rally organised by the group in partnership with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, with funding support from MacArthur Foundation in Abuja.
Speaking during the press conference, the founder of Cedar Seed Foundation (CSF), Lois Auta, said “it is saddened that zero percent of women and girls with disabilities participate in governance.
Auta said women with disabilities are continually excluded, discriminated, sidelined, marginalised and under-represented in elections and political participation in Nigeria.
She explained that in spite of that Nigeria was a signatory to the UN Conventions on the Rights of PWDs, Maputo Protocol, section 30 of the Nigeria Disability Act 2018 and other treaties, women and girls with disabilities were excluded in governance structures.
She noted that Nigeria can only get the renewed hope if the women and girls with disabilities are allowed to participate in governance and decision making process.
“Nobody from the disability community was appointed as a minister.
“We also have other parastatals that PWDs, especially our women can be appointed as director generals, executive directors and executive secretaries.
“So we are still appealing to government to listen to us to give us our rights of active participation by appointing us into these government agencies and parastatals.
She also stated that there would be a national dialogue with the first lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the inclusion of women with disabilities in the renewed Hope initiative and other women communities.
She, therefore called on all women with disabilities to come out and participate actively in politics and also aspire for political position in their various political parties and communities.
The Project Officer, Rose Daniel noted that the existing legal framework of persons with disabilities need to be adequately executed.
She said the event was initiated in collaboration with PLAC to confront challenges affecting women with disabilities in electoral processes, governance structures and political discourse.
Similarly, Cynthia Ukachi On her part recommended that there should be voters and civic education among women with disabilities, adding that the voice of women with disabilities on the post-2023 election pushing for inclusion should be amplified.