The Executive Director of GSAI, Adora Sydney Jack made this recommendation during a workshop on Inclusive Investigation Training on Gender Accountability in Governance, which was organized by GSAI, Gender Accountability and Inclusivity in Nigeria (GAIN), and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) on Monday in Abuja.
Adora explained that such inclusion demonstrates the government's willingness to involve all Nigerians. She further urged journalists to be purposeful in their reporting on PWD and women's inclusion, emphasizing the importance of holding the government accountable for any lack of inclusion.
She said, “For democracy to thrive, we need to have an inclusive society in an Inclusive space; and what that means is that, not just inclusion of women but also inclusion of person’s with Disabilities.
“Right now, i can say there is a thin space for not just women but also for person’s with Disabilities and it goes from appointments that has been made, from the reports that has been given. PWD, especially women and youths must participate in politics and also in the process of that participation.
“Going forward, we need to be deliberate about inclusive reportage, deliberate about accountability, holding government accountable for the lack of inclusion of this classification of people, is to hold government accountable for this vulnerable group and I can tell you that it is only the media that has that charge; it is our duty, first point of call to begin to ask the questions that matters. I believe the media can do more in terms of inclusion for women and PWD, we need to look at advocacy from a place of inclusion and not a place of alternative” Adora said.
Also speaking, Program Officer gender at Inclusive friends association, and gender equity and inclusion advocate, Sussan Ihuoma noted that people with disabilities don’t need sympathy but empathy, adding that women with disabilities should be considered in every sector.
She said ” we have 31M people with disabilities in Nigeria, women with disabilities face unique challenges due to double discrimination they often experience based on both gender and disability..."
