BY Yemi Michael
Various People With Disabilities (PWDs) have called for more support from judicial and security authorities at a training organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).
They said this has become necessary to enhance the civic space for meaningful participation and improvement of the disability community.
The event tagged: ‘One-day Training of Security Formations and Justice Providers on Disability Rights and Effects of Shrinking Civic Space on Persons with Disabilities in Lagos State’, had as its theme: ‘Enhancing Civic Space and Disability Rights for PWDs in Lagos State’.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), participants included officers of the Lagos state command of the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), judicial officers, PWDs and media personnel.
The civic space is the political, legislative, social and economic environment which allows citizens to interact, share their interests and concerns.
Patrick Allan, a facilitator and legal officer, in his address, referred to the civic space as a list of conditions that allow people express themselves.
He said security agencies need to ensure that these spaces are accessible, safe and inclusive for PWDs.
“There’s discrimination and stigma that regularly go with people with disabilities. They need to constantly speak up against such negative stereotypes,” he said.
“This means they need the civic space to be able to do that.
“Physical barriers and lack of accessibility are some of the major challenges. It’s something that they need to have spaces that allow them to freely interact with other members of society.”
Allan said at the moment, legal protection for PWDs, is insufficient.
“In some cases, the implementation is not in the best form, and in some cases, they are simply a work in progress,” he said.
“So, a lot of responsibilities rest with the judicial personnel to actively protect, promote an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public life without discrimination.”
Lukman Salami, the chairman of Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB), Lagos state chapter, said a major challenge facing PWDs is discrimination which reduces the opportunities they can benefit from.
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