Stand Up For Your Rights – NGO Reawakens PWDs
By Sam Udekwe
A non-governmental organisation, Community Life Project (CLP), has sensitised People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nsukka LGA of Enugu State on their rights and privileges especially as it concerns Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The 2-day sensitisation training which was held at St Paul’s Catholic Church, Obukpa in Nsukka LGA on Tuesday with the theme, “Understanding Our Rights as PWDs and How To Protect Ourselves From Gender-Based Violence,” aimed at educating PWDs in the area about their rights and privileges in the society.
In a remark, the Enugu State Coordinator of the group, Prof Simon Eze, asserted that everybody is entitled to fairness and equality and nobody should be discriminated against.
“CLP stand is that nobody should be denied of his/her rights or discriminated against because he/she is disabled,” he said.
The coordinator expressed satisfaction with the responses of participants, stressing that PWDs in the area are now well educated on their rights and privileges.
“From their responses, they now have boldness and strength to challenge anybody who will trample on their rights and privileges,” he said.
He appealed to government at all levels to fully implement the Disabilities Act signed in 2018 in order to remove all barriers facing PWDs in the country.
Speaking, the CLP Programme Manager,
Celine Osukwu, said that the training would help the organisation to ascertain gender-based violence PWDs are facing in the area and how to help them solve their problems.
“We will expose them to laws protecting them as PWDs, build capacity and instil self-esteem in them.
“This training will encourage them to form a network in order to amplify their voice and resist any violence against them, be it physically, emotionally, psychologically or sexually, especially among women,” she said.
The Programme Manager assured that CLP would continue to be in contact with PWDs in the area so as to assist them when the need arises.
Also speaking, Philomena Okwueze, a Master’s Degree student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka who was one of the resource persons said she presented herself as an example to the participants on why they should not be discouraged about their conditions, insisting that there is ability in disability.
Okwueze, visually impaired, and a Masters degree student in Mental and Emotional Health Care, informed that she produces, packages and sells bathing soap, laundry soap, detergent, disinfectant, perfume, air freshener, among others under her registered business name with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“Not only do I produce the above products, but I also train individuals and groups on how to make the products.
0
0
