“The training has changed the way I think about SGBV. I used to be silent about the issue, but now I am determined to speak out and raise awareness among my peers. Together, we can create a safer environment for all women with disabilities.” – Blessing SHG Leader Lagos
WGWDs have been excluded in the development spaces across sectors and in society. WWD face discrimination and barriers including accessing justice for SGBV. They experience violence such as gender and disability-based violence like, partner violence, emotional, sexual, inhuman treatment, removal of mobility aids by caregivers and others. This has affected their self-esteem, they are not able to speak for themselves and as such, they have become invisible in the space as a result of exclusion and marginalization of the community. Moreso WGWDs are not bold enough to speak out when they experience SGBV either at home, in the family or in the community because these barriers and discrimination have isolated them from the system. For instance, there is no sign language interpreter in accessing justices for deaf victim.
The WVL project provided an opportunity for AWWDI to implement the project on SGBV trained leaders of WWD Self Help Groups (SHGs) on Human Right using the SGBV tools in Lagos and FCT to build their legal capacity to advocate for themselves in their communities. As a result of the training, WWDs SHG Leaders that participated have gone back to their various communities to step down the training to members of their groups. The have been able to translate the knowledge they received to impact their members in the community. The empowerment program have provided an opportunity for them to build their self-confidence and also engage their immediate community in the form of advocacy visits and sensitization in Lagos and FCT. Some of the communities that have been sensitized includes: Karamajiji, Kuje, Jabi in FCT and Surulere, Ikorodu, Ajegunle, Ikeja in Lagos state.
During the implementation of the project, 600 women and girls with disabilities self-help group leaders in Nigeria communities were empowered through new skills and capacity building on SGBV reporting and legal right of women and girls with disability in SGBV. More than 1000 women and girls with disabilities reported increased capacity to participate in public life in order to exercise greater leadership to end violence against women and girls with disability.
Through regular self help groups training and meetings at communities level to step down the knowledge and spread the knowledge with a wide range of committed community women with disability and community stakeholders, including the women focus organizations AWWDI community self help groups are also leading advocacy efforts to include women’s rights organizations in the lagos, FCT, Bauchi and Plateau, to amplify the voices of women and girls with disabilities in SGBV.
