A Non-Governmental Organization, Centre for the Right to Health,  will on Thursday, premiere a documentary on the live experiences of women with disabilities who had been victims of gender based violence in Imo State.

The Executive Director of the NGO, Dr. Stella Iwuagwu disclosed this during a Press Conference in Owerri.

Dr. Iwuagwu said the NGO was implementing a project aimed at building the capacity of persons with disability and women’s rights organizations and engage cultural and religious leaders to prevent gender based violence against women with disability in Imo State.

She said that women were more vulnerable to gender based violence than men, adding that women with disabilities were doubly affected due to intersectionalities and multiple layers of vulnerability including religion, culture, access to education, economic securities among others. 

Dr  Iwuagwu who is a public health professional, stressed the need to prioritize the prevention of gender based violence among women with disabilities, noting that GBV had profound and lasting effects on Women With Disabilities including lifelong stigma, discrimination, economic deprivation and increased vulnerability to further violence. 

She identified hunger, loneliness and isolation as some of the factors that increase vulnerability while calling on governments, cultural and religious leaders as well as the media to help amplify the voices of persons with disabilities.  

The Programme Manager of Centre for the Right to Health, Mr. Bede Eziefule who was present at the briefing, said the traditional ruler of Oguta Igwe Nnani Chinedu Nzeribe will  be the Chairman of the occasion while the Bishop  of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu  Right Reverend  Geoffrey Okoroafor  will deliver the Keynote address.

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