Volunteer Lawyers Set to Offer Free Legal Services to PWDs in Anambra

In Anambra State, 12 volunteer lawyers have been specially trained to offer free legal services to persons with disabilities (PWDs) across different communities. This dedicated legal team will operate under the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ANSDRC), focusing on the full enforcement of the 2018 Disability Rights Law.

At a recent sensitisation event in Awka, Mrs. Josephine Onah, the Anambra State Coordinator for International IDEA’s Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC II) programme, revealed that the lawyers received their training in Abuja. The team is set to offer 24-hour legal assistance to vulnerable groups, including individuals with visual and hearing impairments, albinism, physical challenges, and sickle cell disease. Their mission is to ensure that these individuals gain access to justice and protection from discrimination.

Mrs. Onah commended the ANSDRC for its passion and dedication to improving the lives of PWDs, adding that RoLAC II will continue to champion inclusivity and the strengthening of legal frameworks that ensure equal access to justice.

Meanwhile, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie, the Chairman of the ANSDRC, praised RoLAC’s commitment to implementing the Disability Rights Law and called on the media to raise awareness about the law’s provisions. He stressed that any violations of PWDs’ rights would be met with prosecution, as the law must be respected.

Ezewuzie also highlighted that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has not only modernized the commission but empowered it to create structures at every level—from political wards to villages and local governments. In collaboration with traditional rulers and community leaders, these efforts aim to ensure the law is applied effectively.

During the event, Ezewuzie urged the heads of various PWD clusters to educate their members on their rights and to report any cases of discrimination to the legal team. He assured them that justice would be swift and pro bono, with no tolerance for cultural practices that harm PWDs.

Leaders from the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), along with representatives from various PWD groups—including the blind, deaf, albinism, and sickle cell disorder communities—voiced their support for the initiative, recognizing its importance in fostering equality and justice for all.