Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) have urged the Federal Government to put in place policies and programs that will increase their access to justice and also protect them from all forms of discrimination and abuse.
They made this call in Lagos as part of their recommendations and disability inclusion in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals organised by Sightsavers on Friday.
The PUNCH on 25 January 2019, reported former President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed the bill prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities into law.
The title of the bill is ‘Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018’.
“Discrimination is prohibited in public transportation facilities and service providers are to make provision for the physically, visually and hearing impaired and all persons howsoever challenged. This applies to seaports, railways and airport facilities.
“The rights and privileges include education, health care, priority in accommodation and emergencies. Furthermore, all public organisations are to reserve at least five per cent of employment opportunities for these persons.
“The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with an Executive Secretary as the head”, Buhari said.
A development consultant, Dr Adebukola Adebayo, noted that the need became necessary as part of sensitisation and awareness to the general public.
He disclosed that despite some States implementing the Disability Act, PWDs still face discrimination in society and find it difficult to access education and other rights.
Adebayo urged others who are yet to implement the Act to do so for the benefit of PWDs in such states.
“Setting up agencies is not enough and making laws is not enough. Something more still needs to be done. The issue of exclusion and discrimination persists. We need to start thinking outside the box, especially with the implementation of SDGs”.
Sightsavers Country Advocacy Coordinator, Esther Bature, noted that by this year, it had reached the mid-point of implementation for SGDs.
She called on the government to do more in the aspect of disability inclusion, saying, “Hospitals are not accessible for PWDs and some with very high windows where they collect clinic cards. Deaf women go to the hospital and health service providers don’t understand sign language and there is a problem communicating. Our teachers are not trained to work with children with disabilities but with capacity building, these can be achieved.
The National President of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, Dr Abdullahi Usman, called on the government at all levels to rise to their need and protect them from all forms of abuse and discrimination.
He urged the government to ensure PWDs are carried along in various ministries through the establishment of an office for PWDs, to help in the execution of the SDGs relating to them.
“Some government ministries and agencies forget that if they want to achieve the SDGs in relation to PWDs, they must carry PWDs along from the policy-making up to the implementation of such. Otherwise, the goal will not be achieved,” Usman said.
He added that the government needs to act swiftly where necessary in the implementation of disability inclusion and meeting the SDGs target before 2030.
The PUNCH reports on Thursday that no less than 48,063 people from 121 countries, including Nigeria have signed a petition calling for action to protect disability rights ahead of the 2023 United Nations summit on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2023 SDGs summit will be convened on 18-19 September, 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly high-level week.
A statement by the Communications Associate, Sightsavers, Joy Tarbo, on Thursday, noted that the petition was handed to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, in Abuja.
