DWAI 8th Edition of Deaf Women Awareness Week: Commemoration of 2021 International Day of Persons With Disabilities
Maryam Aminu
Deafness is one of the largest disability groups globally: over 460 million people have varying degrees of hearing loss. WHO reports that by 2050 the number may possibly have reached over 900 million.(Deafness and hearing loss,WHO,2019)
Deaf women and girls are atleast twice as likely to be victims of abuse including violence than their hearing peers.
The Executive Director, Deaf Women Aloud Initiative, Helen Beyioku-Alase disclosed this while addressing journalists at the 2021 international day for persons with disabilities and 8th edition of deaf women health awareness.
She added that violence against deaf women and girls with disabilities is a significant issue that is related to both gender and disability-based discrimination and exclusion.
Combination of these factors result in an extremely high risk of violence against girls and women with disabilities. Worse is that, most of this violence goes unreported and unpunished.
She calls on the government, Civil Societies and Development Partners to leave no deaf woman and girl behind in our quest to end gender-based violence by taken necessary steps to strengthen government entities with mandate to prevent to prevent and respond to violence in an inclusive manner with full participation of sign language.
Invest in empowering deaf women and girls with disabilities to know their sexual and reproductive rights and how to protect themselves.
Reacting to the theme: Leadership and Participation of Persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post covid-19, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with disabilities, Hon. James David Lalu, grieved that people with disabilities have often been excluded from playing an active part and leadership roles in our communities as a developing country.
“We at the commission for persons with disabilities, remain focused to change the narratives in the area of employment, education, development of Nigeria sign language, Hon.Lalu assured.
Lalu urged that the international day of persons with disabilities should be a moment to pause, look back and ahead,and build an enabling environment for women and girls with disabilities to lead.
The Executive Director, Dorathy Njemenze Foundation, Dorathy Njemenze, stated in her keynote address that there is ability in every women and girls with disabilities
Njemenze stated that there should be gender responsive budgeting to avoid challenges women faced during covid-19 especially women and girls with disabilities.
She urged that sign language interpreter induced to the judiciary system so that women and girls with disabilities can get justice.
Speaking also, Dayo Benjamins Lamy advised that people should put on true smiles as it is the most powerful sign language that can make People with disabilities feel safe.
Dayo urged people to put a human face to every human being not tagging them as disabled persons but as personalities with distinctive ability that we need to distinguish and give opportunities to.
There is no limit to anyone. People with disabilities have dreams and with actions and support,they can achieve their dreams, she added.
