The Abia State Disability Commission has called for deliberate inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in the implementation of the 2026 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) rehabilitation law.
Chairman of the commission, Dr David Anyaele, made the call in Umuahia during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by CHARS-Africa with support from Urgent Action Fund-Africa.
Anyaele warned that having a legal framework alone would not protect persons with disabilities unless systems removed physical, communication, and institutional barriers.
He said, “A centre may exist, but if a wheelchair user cannot enter or a deaf survivor lacks an interpreter, justice is denied.
“The success of this law should not be measured only by the establishment of structures, but by whether every survivor, with or without disability, can access protection, rehabilitation, justice and support with dignity.”
Anyaele noted that women and girls with disabilities faced heightened risks due to caregiver dependence, communication barriers, limited privacy, stigma, and inaccessible reporting channels.
He urged government to make facilities accessible, provide information in formats for blind and intellectually disabled persons, and train personnel on disability inclusion.
Anyaele also demanded meaningful participation of women with disabilities in monitoring implementation, saying success must be measured by access to protection and justice with dignity.
He commended Gov. Alex Otti for assenting to the law, the state assembly for passing it, and wife of the governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, for championing the legislation.
Earlier, CHARS-Africa executive director, Amaka Biachi, said only five per cent of stakeholders in consultations were aware of the law, highlighting a major awareness gap.
The engagement drew government officials, traditional rulers, labour organisations, health providers, CSOs and community leaders to discuss translating the law into effective survivor protection and rehabilitation.(NAN)
