Disabilities Act 2019: Stakeholders Demand Penalties For Defaulters

Stakeholders at a training of women and PWDs in conflict early warning and early response/early signs of conflict has called on Government at all levels to strengthen and stimulate compliance to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act.

The act which was signed into law by the late president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2019, outlaws discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWDs) in employment, education, healthcare, and public facilities.

Speaking at the event in Jos the Plateau State capital implemented by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (ICPR), with support from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), a facilitator of the programme, Chidozie Douglas Achulogu, stressed that at this point in time, excluding marginalized groups like persons with disabilities and women in social and national life should be unheard of.

According to him, most times in Nigeria and across the world, a lot of things that are done for the members of the population many times exclude people with disabilities and women, and that such often make them feel neglected and develop low self esteem.

He said these marginalised people should be carried along in programmes and other activities, and that defaulters should face the penalty associated with it, which include fines and imprisonment.

Less privileged and disadvantaged persons, he added, due to no fault of their own, like persons with disabilities require equal treatment.

Meanwhile, the technical lead, National Conflict Early Warning and Early Response System, Dr Mang Chaimang, in his remarks noted that research has shown that women and PWDs are the most socially excluded when it comes to conflict resolution or conflict management, and that they are the worst affected during conflicts.

This informed the reason, he said, why this particular group of persons needs to be upscaled in terms of what they should know whenever a conflict arises and the role that they should play in conflict situations.

According to him, building the capacity of the vulnerable persons in the society to understand more of indicators that are capable of igniting any conflict of any proportion is a good strategy that can improve the deteriorating security situation in the country.