By Precious Oham
A group, Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI) and Women and Girls with Disabilities have called for its inclusion in the Gender-Based-Violence (GBV) Management Committee of the Ekiti State government.
This was made known during an advocacy visit to the Special Adviser to the Ekiti state governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Hon. Princess Adetoun Funmilayo Agboola at the state government office on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti.
DINABI Nigeria team alongside women and girls with disabilities, led by the State Woman Leader of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Ekiti State chapter were at the office of the Special Adviser.
According to the group, this is part of the project being implemented by DINABI funded by Disability Rights Fund (DRF) towards advancing the rights of women and girls with disabilities to freedom from gender-based violence in Ekiti state.
The Executive Director of DINABI Nigeria, Mr. Olajide Funso, who appreciated the state government under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his giant strides towards the inclusion of PWDs in Ekiti state highlighted some improvements in the inclusion process in the state since the appointment of the Special Adviser.
He said women and girls with disabilities face double discrimination in the society, first being a woman and then being a woman with disabilities which invariable increases their chances of being violated, harassed and discriminated upon.
Mr. Olajide sought for the support of the Special Adviser and the state government towards the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Policy Brief on Gender-Based Violence Coordinating Mechanism and Disability Perspective in Ekiti state developed as part of the project being funded by Disability Rights Fund.
He specifically called for the inclusion of PWDs in the GBV management committee of the state so as to affords WGWD who are victims and survivor of GBV to have a voice at the decision-making table and an unhindered access to justice.
In her response, Hon. Agboola appreciated DINABI and DRF for their efforts towards ensuring an inclusive society where PWDs can actualize their full potentials without any barrier.
She expressed her joy towards the objective of the visit, especially as it relates to women and girls with disabilities in the state affirming her unwavering support towards ensuring that women with disability is included in the Ekiti State GBV Management Committee as this will promote safe society, access to justice and conducive environment for women and girls with disabilities to thrive favourably with their men counterpart.
She promised to communicate the outcome of the advocacy visit to the state government so as to facilitate necessary actions in due time.
The JONAPWD Woman Leader in the state, Mrs Bankole Gbemisola while presenting copies of the GBV policy brief Produced by DINABI Nigeria titled “Policy Brief on GBV Coordinating Mechanism and Disability Perspective in Ekiti Sate” to the Special Adviser, implored her to ensure that all hands are on deck in ensuring the inclusion of a woman with disability in the state’s GBV management committee.
She noted that the success of this would gladden the group and also give women and girls with disabilities a sense of belonging when their rights are been protected.
