Anambra: TAF Africa engages media Practitioners on able to vote, use of language for PWDs

BY SUZY CHUKWUECHEDOM / ONITSHA

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), The All-Rights Foundation (TAF Africa), an organization funded by the European Union8 yesterday concluded the media workshop.

The workshop focused on understanding disability and intersectionality in Election, seeing the ability in persons with disabilities, uses of demeaning language while describing persons with disabilities.

TAF Africa promotes the rights of persons with disabilities, advocates the need as well as the right for persons with disabilities to participate fully during election so as to be able to vote for their preferred candidate in November 8 Anambra State Governorship election as well as contest during any election in Nigeria.

Speaking during the workshop at Hilton Leisure Resort and Hotels, Awka on the theme: “Bridging media and the Disability community for inclusive participation in Anambra”, Senior Program Officer, TAF Africa, Mr. George Anwayi stressed the need for understanding disability and intersectionality in elections.

Anwayi took an overview of Section 54 sub section 1 and 2 of Electoral Act which according to him significantly make provisions for persons with disabilities, adding that Subsection 1 was intentional about making provision for assisted voting and the procedure for assistance open to the INEC.

He said that it is important that INEC take reasonable steps to ensure that PWDs participate in the election process with ease.

Another TAF Africa’s Senior Communication Officer, Lynn Agwuncha, stressed the need for inclusive program that will adequately take care of persons with disabilities.

Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Lagos presented paper on Reframing the media narrative on disability.

He said emphatically that Nigeria cannot afford to leave the thirty million people with disabilities behind in the scheme of things.

He called on the media to join efforts towards changing the negative stereotypes against PWDs by using People – first language like persons with disabilities to avoid labels adding that disability is part of life and of human diversity.

He outlined some of the positive stereotype to be used while identifying the people with disabilities as people with visual impairment ( for the blind), children with albinism, “students with dyslexia”, “women with intellectual disabilities etc

The Chairman for deaf community, Ezemba Ndubueze urged newsmen to always include their opinion while reporting.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.