Lack of economic empowerment has been described as one of the factors responsible for violence against persons with disabilities in the society.
Executive director of a non governmental organisation ‘Inclusive Friends Association’ Mrs Grace Jerry made the assertion during a capacity building workshop of young advocates/leaders with disabilities to spotlight and innovatively address incidences of gender based violence.
She said the training was organised by the association with support from ‘Ford Foundation’ implementing the amplifying voices project meant to end gender based violence against women and girls with disabilities.
Grace opined that to tackle violence against disabled persons, there is need to empower them economically so that they can cater for themselves ‘as some of these violence incidences against them come from their caregivers’.
“Young women and girls with disabilities are afraid of being held liable even for what happened to them and fear that the assistance being given to them will be withdrawn if they speak out. Because some of these violence come from their family or caregivers. That is why we are calling for empowerment of women and girls with disabilities so that they don’t always rely on others for financial support.”, she pointed out.
Also speaking, the programme officer of the project Susan Ihoma called on the Gombe State House of Assembly to expedite the passage of the persons with disability act and the state government to hasten the establishment of People With Disability Commission.
