As the world commemorates the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD), the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has renewed called for the inclusion, rights, and development of women and girls with disabilities.

The organisation, in a statement signed by Godwin Unumeri, the acting director of CCD, said the organisation was in solidarity with women and girls living with disabilities whose rights continue to be overlooked and inadequately protected.

It said that the 2026 IWD theme “Rights. Justice. 

Action. For all Women and Girls” was a reminder that access to justice was a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of equality and dignity.

According to Mr Unumeri, women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria and other societies continue to face systemic discrimination rooted in harmful social norms, discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and inaccessible justice systems.

The director noted that these realities deny them the opportunity to live free from violence, participate fully in society, and seek justice on an equal basis with others.

He said:” As affirmed by Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.

”This principle must apply fully and equally to women and girls with disabilities.

“Women and girls with disabilities experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination on the basis of gender and disability in critical areas of life such as education, employment, healthcare and access to justice leaving them behind”.

He noted that they continued to face discrimination, limited access to education, increasing vulnerability to poverty and abuse, forced dependency, exclusion from leadership, political participation, and decision-making spaces among others.

The organisation, however, emphasised the need for urgent reforms and elimination of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that affect women and girls with disabilities, Inclusive and equitable justice systems that provide reasonable accommodation.

Others are survivor-centered services, stronger protection and prevention measures to end gender-based violence, disability-inclusive legal aid services, Increased representation and participation of women with disabilities in governance.

The director noted that true equality could not be achieved when women and girls with disabilities were excluded from justice, denied protection, or silenced by systems meant to uphold their rights. 

(NAN)