The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has said that representatives of persons with disabilities should be included in the various panels of inquiries set up by state governments to look into series of atrocities committed by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
While lauding the efforts of state governments towards probing the squad, Executive Director of the centre, David Anyaele, in a statement on Monday, said the population of persons with disabilities has consistently increased as a result of modus operandi of the disbanded SARS.
He added that it was unfortunate that many people suffered disability during the protests as a result of excessive use of force by the security operatives. “This is most condemnable,” he added.
The centre said as laudable as the effort of the states and the Federal government to inquire on the operations of SARS and its effect on the citizenry, it is worried that none of the committees set up has the representatives of persons with disabilities either at the state or Federal level.
CCD therefore called on the state panels of enquiries on SARS to consider taking measures to include person(s) with disabilities as member(s) of the panel in their various States.
The centre also said venues for sittings should be accessible to persons with disabilities in line with Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 should they decide to appear before the panel.
-Advertisement-
READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu: #ENDSARS protests hit all of us like a thunder bolt
“The communication of the panel should be made accessible to persons with disabilities. Where a person with hearing impairment appears before the panel, a sign language interpreter should be on standby for ease of communication.
“ Should a person with disability wish to testify before the panel, he/she should not be discriminated against on the basis of disability in line with section 1 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018. CCD calls on members of the panels to be above board and ensure persons that suffered disabilities as a result of SARS operations or as a result of the protests are adequately compensated, the CCD explained.
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
