NGO launches campaign for disability rights

Sightsavers Nigeria, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), has launched an international for disability rights.

The NGO said signatures will be collected around the world between June and September.

A petition will be submitted to the UN general assembly when presidents and world leaders meet in September.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign in Abuja, Sunday Isiyaku,  Sightsavers country director, said in Nigeria and around the world, people with disabilities are denied the rights to go to school or get jobs.

Isiyaku called on the federal government to implement the disability law.

“Sightsavers Nigeria is launching a petition calling for disability rights to be upheld by the United Nations and its member states,” he said.

“As a UN member the petition also includes a call to the Federal Government of Nigeria to implement the Nigeria Disability Act.

“In Nigeria and around the world, people with disabilities are denied the rights to go to school, find a job, access health care and take part in political processes. This discrimination is an injustice on over 20 million Nigerians with disabilities.

“Our petition for disability rights has two goals. At a global level, it calls on the United Nations to make sure that its recently published disability strategy is implemented effectively.

“At a national level, we are calling on our own governments to implement the national disability act and meet commitments they have made on disability inclusion.”

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the disability law in January.