Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, says his government is currently reviewing the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, with a view of domesticating it in the state.
Governor Ugwuanyi stated this on Wednesday at a town hall meeting on the elimination of Gender-based violence for Women with disabilities, organised by the Voice for Disability Initiative, (VDI)
Voice of Disability Initiative is an advocacy network formed by and for women with disabilities, saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding and protecting the fundamental human rights of women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, said the review of the Act was in line with his administration’s commitment to improve the plight of persons with disabilities.
He gave the assurance that the Act, after review, will be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for consideration and possible domestication.
Governor Ugwuanyi disclosed that the state government is providing free testing and medical services to victims of Gender-based violence, through the TARMA Sexual Assault Center, TARMA SAC.
Earlier, the VDI Executive Director, Catherine Edeh, argued that the act, when domesticated, will mitigate numerous challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities in Enugu state.
While noting that twenty states have domesticated the act, Edeh said it will be de-service to persons with disabilities, if the state government did not do the needful.
The Executive Director stressed that 40 to 60 per cent of girls with disabilities suffer sexual violence before 18 years, adding that deaf persons were abused more because of their inability to communicate the abuse.
The event attracted many people including, the Executive Director, Heroine Women Foundation and State Sub-Committee Chairman, Gender Based Violence, Welfare and Support, Mrs. Onyinye Mama