…Urges Media Practitioners To Lead Advocacy
By Nkama Chioma
A non-governmental organization, Centre For The Right To Health (CRH) on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 concluded a 3-day capacity building workshop organized for some media practitioners in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The Program Director, CRH Mr Bede Eziefule hinted that the essence of the workshop was to enlighten the Journalists on the challenges persons with disabilities face especially women and girls.
He said that media practitioners were expected to join the advocacy against all forms of violence against women and girls, stressing that, due to their condition, they find it difficult to speak up, even when they are molested, physically and emotionally abused by persons who ought to protect them.
He urged the media practitioners to ensure they strategically play their watchdog role and champion the campaign against all sorts of violence against women and girls with disability, emphasizing that they are humans and as such, deserve love and care.
The program facilitator, Mr Tim Aniebonam charged the journalists to lead the advocacy on preventing violence against women and girls with disability, stressing that if the Media Practitioners take up their responsibilities justly, alot of injustices against women and girls with disability would be corrected.
The chairperson of Imo State Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA), Her worship Joy Nwosu Azuama enlightened the media practitioners on some sections of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) that protect persons with disability.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mr Godson Okeoma noted that the Imo State Disability Bill that seeks to support persons with disability had passed the third reading in the Imo State House of Assembly and expressed satisfaction that rescue would soon come the way of the physically challenged persons in the state.
Orji Josephine Precious (PLY) – a Paralympian and multiple Gold Medalist, Joy Amadikwa – Woman Leader, Association of The Blind Imo State, Monicmary Itoya Enigu – Imo State Vice Chairman Albinism Association of Nigeria, Korie Blessing Chinasa – President National Association of Women with Disability Imo State and Nwaozuzu Chituru – a Paralympian called on government at all levels to consider the plight of the physically challenged persons, noting the need for increased advocacy, capacity building and inclusivity.
