Press Release: International Women’s Day

Today is International Women’s Day, a day set aside globally to celebrate the contributions of women and girls to international development and impact.

The occasion which usually appreciates the determination, resilience, and multi-tasking nature of women across the board, also seeks to create awareness on the need for women to be given chances and opportunities to contribute equally with their male counterparts.

This year’s theme is “Choose to Challenge” which reminds us of the resilience, doggedness, determination, and constant push by women with disabilities in Nigeria to create a society that is inclusive and participatory on an equal basis with others.

We are concerned that Women with disabilities in Nigeria have continued to struggle for equal opportunity, access to healthcare and education as well as respect for their human rights.

Centre for citizens with disabilities (CCD) wishes to use this opportunity to reaffirm its position for a better society for women most importantly women with disabilities, whom the society has long neglected and excluded (without attention).

We call on women with disabilities in Nigeria to continue to challenge the systems and institutions to ensure access to employment and empowerment, elimination of all forms of gender-based violence, and secure sexual reproductive health rights in order to maximize their potentials.

This is the time for women with disabilities to join politics. There are lots of opportunities for women with disabilities in the political arena as speaking outside the policy table would prolong the struggle for women with disabilities participation in governance.

Established in 2002, the CCD is a not-for-profit human rights organization that promotes the interests of PWDs. The organization played pivotal roles in the campaign for two disability laws in Nigeria. These are the Lagos State Special People’s Law of 2010 and the Federal Discrimination against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act of 2018. It is also the leader in investigating and documenting state and non-state compliance with these legislations.

Information on our work, including reports and other publications, is available on our website: www.cddnigeria.org. The CCD has offices in Lagos and Abia states and Abuja, the federal capital — with research, data analysis, and accounts officers.

As private and public institutions celebrate women across the world, we call for the inclusion of the achievement and contributions of women with disabilities in the narratives especially women and girls with disabilities in sports.

Thank you.

David O. Anyaele
Executive Director

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