By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
In commemoration of the 16 days of activism against Sexual and Gender-based Violence, SGBV, women’s and child rights advocates as well as civil society organisations, CSOs, in Sokoto state, have called for the establishment of more life skills and schools for People Living with Disability (PLWD).
The CSOs made the call at a WRAPA EU-UN Spotlight Initiative 2-Day midterm review workshop held at the Giginya Coral Hotel, Sokoto.
The call is aimed at promoting self reliance as well as protect women and girls living with disability against sexual and gender based violence.
They also appealed to both the federal, state and local governments to ensure justice for survivors of SGBV.
Speaking for PLWD, 21-year old Khadija Bello, a 400 level student of Education /Chemistry Department at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, living with disability, said they were being neglected and discriminated against by the society and even their families.
“Most parents prefer to train children that are seen to be normal than those with disability. PLWD in Sokoto rural areas are by implication denied of education because they cannot shoulder the responsibility of bringing their disabled wards to town for studies.
“PLWD are also discriminated against when it comes to employment. Government at all levels should give special consideration to our members in every establishment.
“Government at all levels should also strive towards creating enabling environments for PLWD that cannot go to school to acquire skills that will help them become self reliant,” she said.
While decrying that people like taking advantage of PLWD because of their condition which often compels them into begging for survival, Miss Bello alongside WRAPA /EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and Women’s and Child Rights Advocates called for Justice for survivors of SGBV.
“In Sokoto, like most other states, people always like to take advantage of PLWD because they are often subjected to begging for survival,” Miss Bello further said.
The group commended Sokoto government for the monthly stipend paid to support PLWD, asking that sustainable interventions that tends to support creative entrepreneurship be encouraged.
They appealed to PLWD community to arm themselves with the “can do spirit” to enable them tap into their inward strength and dignified living devoid of all forms of abuse.
The PLWD were further encouraged to identify legitimate means of survival and seek for relevant support rather than begging for survival, which always make them easy prey for SGBV.
Endorsed by the underlisted organisations:
1. Women’s Rights Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
2. Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA)
3. Jama’a Community Support Group (HIV Positive Support Group)
4. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)
5. 3. Center for People Peace and Progress (3Ps)
6. 4. Partnership for Justice Nana Khadija (SARC Center)
7. 5. Child Protection Committee Binji and Illela LGA
8. 6. Mothers Association Binji
9. 7. Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Sokoto
10. 8. Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Sokoto
11. 9. Zumunta Mata (Women Group)
12. 10. Association for Better Community Health (ABECOH)
13. 11. 100 Women Group Bodinga
14. 12. Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
15. 13. Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN)
16. 14. NEEM Foundation
17. 15. Center for Girl Education
18. 16. Save the Child Initiative (STCI), Nigeria
19. 17. Helping Hand and grassroot support Foundation
20. 18. ASSATAHIR International Foundation
21. 19. Rashida Muhammed & Co. (Probono Lawyer)
22. 20. Marna Youth Vanguard
