Stakeholders in the justice system, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), government agencies, CSOs, Security Agencies and state disability rights commission all came together in collaborative effort to advocate for access to justice for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Speaking during the event, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Chief Ayuba Gufwan noted that the commission is determined to strengthening institutional capacity for the implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities which is inline with the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 through compliance, monitoring, enforcement and legal redress.
He affirmed that persons with disabilities must have a platform for access to justice in any case of discrimination.
He decried the history of denials that has raged on in the community over the years before the establishment of the Commission.
“Today is very significant because many persons with disabilities have suffered depression through maltreatment from various segments of the society.”
Gufwan, however, expressed gratitude to disability partners who champion advocacy on the fundamental rights.
He thanked the International Institute for Democracy and Electorial Assistance (IDEA) for supporting the Commission to impact knowledge on the legal practitioners in the administration of justice for Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria.
Chief Ayuba Gufwan, therefore, urged the participants to make the Disability Act a living document beyond the letters.
Also speaking, Barr. Marcus Florence said persons with disabilities face challenges in accessing justice, disability enforcement, ignorance of the law, awareness creation, communication, transportation discrimination and access because justice in Nigeria is too expensive, she called for strengthening workshop for institute of Justice to be trained in other to tackle the barriers faced by persons with disability.
She said “the act is there all we need now is solution to the barriers.”
She also made emphases on training and sensitization for judges, lawyers, law enforcement, women affairs nd other CSOs on access to communication by use of interpreter for the deaf and Braille for the visually impaired, and increase the speed of public awareness. She assured of lawyers’ readiness to provide their services when the need arise for effective justice, sustainability and long lasting solution.
Barr. Ikem Uchegbulam, director compliance and enforcement department, NCPWD, said stigma in Nigeria is high, from 1999 – 2019 there was no law and even some cases had to be struck down due to lack of law in Nigeria but now that the law is there, it is the responsibility of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to ensured everything is on ground for the benefit of PWDs even though it is not just the commission that has to do the work alone but others should join hands together with the commission.
The Director, Legal services, Mr. Joseph Okon emphasized on the need for cooperation on how organizations respond to issues related to persons with disabilities, he also suggested inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Ministry of information radio program which holds every Saturday and that of human rights.
A practical section was carried out by Barr. Dahiru S. Bobbo, director vulnerable group department National Human Right Commission. He said the right channel to tackle persons with disabilities rights should be followed and well documented for future evidence, he emphasised on the importance of documentation which is very important and essential because enforcement had to do with documentation, and he also suggested progress report should be documented too.