JONAPWD, others validate abridged versions of Anambra Disabilities Rights Law

By Cynthia Igbokwe

For the purpose of increasing the awareness and full implementation of the Disabilities Law, the Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JONAPWD) alongside other stakeholders, held a one day exercise to review and validate the abridged (Igbo and Pidgin) versions of the Anambra State Disability Right law enacted in 2018.

The event, which was held on Wednesday 20th October 2021 at Choice hotel Awka, was centered on critical reviewing of the Igbo and Pidgin English abridged version of the Law.

Addressing the stakeholders, State chairman of JONAPWD, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke noted that the exercise geared to capture the interest of all person’s while increasing the awareness spread of the Law and its provisions, and also to break the language barrier for the less educated population.

Comrade Okeke, also informed that the validation exercise would increase stakeholders knowledge of their rights through handy and simplified volumes of the Law.

Okeke maintained that the meeting would aid in exploring the cognitive advantage of using the language of the target peoples culture in enhancing better understanding of the Law and it provisions.

Speaking further, Okeke expressed joy at the recent assurances by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that JONAPWD members in the state would get special attention to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

“INEC has assured us that they have carried out accessibility audit on most of the polling units to ensure all are compliant. Those that are not, they promised to bring out the polling units to guarantee access to our members to cast their votes.

“They also assured us that priority attention will be given to PWDs and the aged during elections. We also requested they should carve out a queue for us to cast our vote as fast as possible.

“We’re also planning to engage Ministry of Education due to the number of schools being used for the exercise, such that when they are building schools, they’ll factor in PWDs,” Okeke added.

Earlier, the State programme coordinator of Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (Rolac), Mrs. Josephine Onah posited that the exercise, upon completion, would help popularize the Law n disabilities rights and aid better understanding and compliance of the Law.

She also acknowledged all the stakeholders for their solidarity in ensuring that JONAPWD came to limelight.

Some of the contents in the Anambra State Disability Law (2018) included: prohibition from Cruelty and in human treatment; Provisions of facilities at public building; Right to reservations at parking lots; Right to freedom of expression and opinion.