Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), managers of Ireti Resource Center, on Wednesday, June 21, held a community legal clinic for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Alimosho Area of Lagos State.
The rights group held the program in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria.
At the program held at Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Secretariat, WRAHP and its theme of lawyers took their time to educate the PWD community on their rights as enshrined in the Lagos State law, as well as how they can access free legal service from Lagos State if their rights are infringed upon.
The PWD community was equally told the stipulations of the Lagos State law on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other forms of abuses; penalties for offenders, and how survivors can access justice.
Speaking on the program in a statement made available to newsmen at the event, WRAHP’s Executive Director, Bose Ironsi, explained that the program was part of the activity for the fifth and final year under the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) supported project managed by Action Aid Nigeria and titled “Addressing Gender-Based Violence/Violence against Women and Girls”.
“Persons with disabilities are more susceptible to experience physical, sexual, and financial abuse as a result of pervasive discrimination, significant rights violations, neglect, and stigmatization,” Ironsi said.
“Furthermore, this danger is made worse due to limited access to information and their inability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.”
Continuing she said, “Community Legal Clinics provides free and confidential legal information, advice, advocacy and representation to the underprivileged and marginalized communities. This plays a crucial role in ensuring access to justice for all; especially girls and women who are survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
“This program provides an opportunity for all cluster members of PWDs to assess Pro Bono lawyers. This clinic typically offers services such as legal representation, advice, and counseling on what the Lagos State law says about SGBV, employment issues, tenant and landlord issues, the state’s Special People’s Law, and other human rights concerns.
“This training is part of our efforts to ensure that survivors are well informed on their rights on legal issues and our readiness to work with the clusters of PWDs in Alimosho LGA.”
WRAHP, Managers of Ireti Resources prides itself as an innovative, non-profit making organization with the core mission to promote women and community health by equipping, mobilizing and actively engaging members of the community as an agent of social change through information sharing, capacity building, and advocacy.
“We are well aware that issues of SGBV cases are rampant among persons living with Disabilities in communities in Lagos State, and it is our responsibility to follow up on our efforts to address the menace. Community legal clinics for SGBV survivors will play a crucial role in helping individuals navigate the legal system and access justice,” Ironsi said, calling on the media to join “us in our fight in breaking the culture of silence.”