By Praise Chinecherem
RULE of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme has taken step to operationalize the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018) with the activation of the Legal Service Department of the State Disability Rights Commission.
To this end, RoLAC, Phase II, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA), has held a one-day capacity building workshop for cluster heads of the disability community to sensitize them on the provisions of the law and how they can leverage them in seeking redress for violations of their rights as persons with disabilities.
State Project Coordinator, Josephine Onah disclosed that 12 lawyers had been mobilized from the Ministry of Justice to offer probono legal services to members of the disability community who seek redress for various violations of their rights as provided for in the law.
She noted with dissatisfaction that since the law was enacted in 2018 and the commission inaugurated in 2022, the law has not been put to test by members. “The law has been dormant and it is not good for us at all. All the reliefs provided for you in the law are still untapped and that is why we are doing this to ensure that you enjoy the benefits of the law to the fullest.
“Using the law to end the violation of the rights of persons with disability is the goal of this intervention,” she further explained even as she equally appealed to members of the disability community to popularise the presence and interventions of RoLAC in the state. “This is important for us and I want you to assist in sharing our activities on your various platforms including the social media”.
“We have gathered 12 lawyers and they have been trained to render these services probono. The goal is to give life to the law with a view to end all forms of discriminations against persons with disabilities”.
Addressing the gathering, the Chairman, Disability Rights Commission, (DRC), Chuks Ezewuzie, remarked, “Mine is for you to know what we’re doing so that you can take advantage of it. After today, you will know that you’re dying of hunger in the midst of abundance. Violation has been going on for long but fro today, we shall stop the bleeding.
“The law was passed and assented to in 2018 through the help of RoLAC and other partners. On December 3rd, 2021, this ten-member commission was constituted but was not inaugurated until February 1st, 2022.
“A lot was done under RoLAC 1 and a lot is being done under RoLAC 2. Today, RoLAC is intervening to activate our Legal Service Department operational to spearhead the implementation of the law in line with the provision of Section 9 (1c) of the law.
“Enforcement is the key to implementation. However, if you are waiting for the police, the government or even the Judiciary to implement it, it will not happen. You and me must seek redress for the rights which this law has given to us.
“We will show you today how this law protects and defends you if you will test it. If you do not sue, you are in soup. We are grateful to Governor Charles Soludo. This year, the Commission finally got his own budget line. Our office was furnished and our operations digitized,” he concluded happily.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Beverly Nkemdiche-Ikpeazu, who was a member of the state assembly when the law was passed in 2018, tasked the commission and PWDs not to rest until they overcome prejudice and discrimination against them in society. “I urge all the clusters to list out their needs and submit to the commission. They will send them to me and I will know how to channel them for positive results”.
The Chairman, JONAPWD and board member of the Commission, Ugochukwu Okeke, promised to send the vital messages from the occasion to members across the state while the cluster heads pledged commitment to the operationalisation of the law.
The event, which featured different presentations on various provisions of the law including the revenue windows offered by it, was equally attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Chinwe Achugbu.
