Nigerian Women Living With Disabilities Seek Justice
2020-03-16
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1Research by a Nigerian activist group says about 20 percent of women in Nigeria live with a disability.
2Activists say many of those women suffer injustices because of their condition, including violence.
3But one disabled woman is helping women like her get healthcare and seek justice.
4Eberendu Onyinyechi was just one year old when an illness caused her to lose the use of both of her legs.
5She did not let her condition stop her from reaching her life goals, however.
6She earned a college degree in linguistics and now works for the Abuja government.
7But Eberendu said she has experienced sexual violence.
8"I think sex is supposed to be something I consent to, you don't force me to do it, you don't try to use the strength of a man to try to take it. But unfortunately, that's what many of us suffer."
9Nigerian women and girls with disabilities face three times more risk of violence because of their sex than those without disabilities.
10That information comes from the non-profit Disabilities Rights Advocacy Center, or DRAC, based in Abuja.
11Irene Patrick leads the group. She said violence by intimate partners is the most common situation.
12DRAC is helping women and girls with disabilities seek justice.
13Patrick said the situation in Nigeria is serious.
14She said people often do not believe a woman with disabilities who accuses someone of rape.
15Patrick said this is preventing these women from getting justice.
16She added that, "even when they report, nothing is done about it and in some cases they're actually ridiculed."
17Nigeria signed a disabilities rights act into law in 2018.
18But activists argue that a lack of knowledge and ability to bring cases continue to hurt efforts by Nigeria's disabled women to get justice.
19The activists also say that a lack of money is a problem.
20Emmanuel Adedeji is a lawyer with the Nigerian Bar Association.
21He promised his group's support at a recent meeting.
22He said, "The Nigerian Bar Association will be willing...to be part of any initiative to protect the rights of persons with disabilities."
23Organizations like DRAC say they will provide a safe place for women with disabilities to fight for equal justice.
24I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Research by a Nigerian activist group says about 20 percent of women in Nigeria live with a disability. Activists say many of those women suffer injustices because of their condition, including violence. 2But one disabled woman is helping women like her get healthcare and seek justice. 3Eberendu Onyinyechi was just one year old when an illness caused her to lose the use of both of her legs. 4She did not let her condition stop her from reaching her life goals, however. She earned a college degree in linguistics and now works for the Abuja government. 5But Eberendu said she has experienced sexual violence. 6"I think sex is supposed to be something I consent to, you don't force me to do it, you don't try to use the strength of a man to try to take it. But unfortunately, that's what many of us suffer." 7Nigerian women and girls with disabilities face three times more risk of violence because of their sex than those without disabilities. That information comes from the non-profit Disabilities Rights Advocacy Center, or DRAC, based in Abuja. 8Irene Patrick leads the group. She said violence by intimate partners is the most common situation. DRAC is helping women and girls with disabilities seek justice. 9Patrick said the situation in Nigeria is serious. She said people often do not believe a woman with disabilities who accuses someone of rape. Patrick said this is preventing these women from getting justice. She added that, "even when they report, nothing is done about it and in some cases they're actually ridiculed." 10Nigeria signed a disabilities rights act into law in 2018. But activists argue that a lack of knowledge and ability to bring cases continue to hurt efforts by Nigeria's disabled women to get justice. The activists also say that a lack of money is a problem. 11Emmanuel Adedeji is a lawyer with the Nigerian Bar Association. He promised his group's support at a recent meeting. 12He said, "The Nigerian Bar Association will be willing...to be part of any initiative to protect the rights of persons with disabilities." 13Organizations like DRAC say they will provide a safe place for women with disabilities to fight for equal justice. 14I'm Jonathan Evans. 15Timothy Obiezu reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 16________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18degree - n. a title given, as to students, by a college or university 19linguistics - n. the study of language and of the way languages work 20consent - n. permission for something to happen or be done 21intimate - adj. having a very close relationship; very warm and friendly 22ridiculed - v. made fun of; laughed at or joked about in a cruel or harsh way