The Abia State Disability Commission has demanded the deliberate and comprehensive inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in the implementation of the newly enacted Abia State Centre for Rehabilitation of Survivors of Rape, Defilement, Domestic Violence and Any Form of Human Trafficking Law, 2026.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. David Anyaele, made the call on Thursday in Umuahia at a one-day stakeholder engagement on strengthening the operationalisation of the law, organised by the African Centre for Human Advancement and Resource Support (CHARS-Africa) with support from the Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF-Africa). Dr. Anyaele warned that the existence of a legal framework would not, by itself, guarantee protection for persons with disabilities unless the systems created under the law were deliberately designed to remove physical, communication, and institutional barriers.
Drawing attention to the heightened risks faced by this demographic, the Chairman noted that
“Women and girls with disabilities face heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence. Their vulnerability may be compounded by dependence on caregivers, communication barriers, limited privacy, inaccessible reporting mechanisms, social isolation, stigma and reduced capacity to seek immediate assistance.”
He further stated that “A rehabilitation centre may exist, but if a wheelchair user cannot enter the building, it is not inclusive. If a Deaf survivor cannot communicate because there is no sign language interpreter, justice may be denied,” urging stakeholders to examine the law’s operational framework through a strict disability-inclusion lens.
To actualise this vision, Dr. Anyaele called on the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that all rehabilitation facilities are physically accessible, information and communication are provided in accessible formats for the blind and those with intellectual disabilities, and personnel are adequately trained on disability inclusion. He also advocated for the meaningful participation of women with disabilities and their representative organisations in the monitoring and implementation of the law, stressing: “The success of this Law should not be measured only by the establishment of structures, but by whether every survivor, with or without disability, can access protection, rehabilitation, justice and support with dignity.”
The Commission Chairman commended the Abia State Government for establishing a sustainable pathway for the rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors of gender-based violence. He specially appreciated the Wife of the Governor, Lady Priscilla Chidinma Otti, for championing the legislation, while also appreciating the Abia State House of Assembly for passing the Bill and Governor Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, for assenting to it. “The message is clear: survivors must not be abandoned, and all hope is not lost,”.
Earlier in her address, the Executive Director of CHARS-Africa, Barrister Amaka Biachi, revealed a significant awareness gap surrounding the new legislation, disclosing that only about five per cent of stakeholders engaged during preliminary consultations were aware of the law’s existence. She described this revelation as an indication of the magnitude of work required to translate the legislation from a legal document into an effective, survivor-centred system of protection, noting that the real impact of the law would depend on how well its provisions are practically implemented.]
The engagement, which brought together representatives of government ministries, departments and agencies, traditional institutions, labour, health and social service providers, civil society organisations and community stakeholders, also provided a platform for discussions on translating the 2026 law from legislation into effective protection and rehabilitation for survivors.
