By Foday Moriba Conteh
In the bid to recognize eminent women with disabilities who have chosen to challenge stigma, discrimination and inequality in their communities, One Family People in collaboration with Voice of Women Africa, on Wednesday 28th April, 2021, awarded 20 eminent women with disabilities who have chosen to challenge stigma, discrimination and inequality in their communities across the country at an auspicious event held at Mayonella Hall, Syke Street in Freetown. The twenty eminent women with disabilities awardees were drawn from different parts of the country.
The Programme Manager of One Family People, Samuel P.O.V Macaulay, revealed that generally women suffer discrimination and that women with disabilities suffer the most, and the importance of this awarding ceremony is for the inclusion of such women with disabilities in nation building.
He added that women living with disabilities should be consider as very important people in society, adding that most of these women have been contributing positively towards nation building, and this has been the driving factor behind the decision by the organization for recognizing their inputs with these awards and identifying with their resolve to challenge the stigma, discrimination and inequality of their disability in their communities.
Giving her keynote address, Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dassama, expressed appreciation to the One Family People and Voice of Women for organizing such a historic event, which she said will serve as an eye opener to all in order to see the good work women living with disabilities are doing in their various communities.
The Minister maintained that as a Government they are very committed towards addressing issues of people living with disabilities, especially women and girls, as they are more vulnerable in terms of neglect and abuse.
She noted that her ministry is currently reviewing the Persons with Disability Acts, which she said is already at the validation point, adding that they will ensure that after the new disability Acts, they will take a bill to cabinet in order to mainstream gender issues across the country.
Baindu Dassama encouraged recipients to keep on the good work they have been doing in their various communities towards the development of the nation, stating that the award should serve as a motivation to them in order to continue their work in their different communities.
Deputy Public Relations Officer 50/50 Group, Marian Pleasant Kargbo, on behalf of the 50/50 Group, congratulated the awardees and that 50/50 is geared towards advocating and campaigning for an increased political participation and equal representation of women in decision making processes and initiatives at all levels in the country.
She noted that society has not been treating its citizens equally, and wondered how people living with disability, especially women, who most times are at the disadvantage end of society, feel.
On behalf of her organization, Marian Pleasant Kargbo used the opportunity to encourage women living with disabilities to continue standing in their little way, and also informed them to advocate to their colleagues in order to see themselves as very important people in society who can contribute to nation building.
Financial Secretary of All Political Parties Women Association, Kaday Johnson, commended the One Family People for awarding women living with disabilities, describing the recognition of the role played by these women towards nation building as important and worthy of praise.
She added that this also shows that there is ability in disability, adding that women have not been giving the equal opportunity to participate in politics, decision making etc. due to the very fact that they are discriminated against by society and get little access to resources, or opportunities, and women with disabilities are no exceptions.
Representative from the National Commission for Persons with Disability, disclosed that the Commission is a specialized Government Agency established by the Persons with Disability Acts 2011 in order to enhance the wellbeing of persons with disabilities and the fight against discrimination, and for the polarization of opportunities for persons with disabilities amongst its core functions.
He stated that the commission is aware of the challenges persons living with disabilities undergo on a daily basis, but even more so, they are aware that women with disabilities are even finding it more challenging.
He said that under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, through the dynamic Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dassama, the Commission is very serious in addressing issues of disabilities, and the award ceremony is a bid to complement the efforts of Government in creating an enabling environment for women with disabilities.
One of the beneficiaries, Melrose Kargbo, expressed appreciation to One Family People and partners for the award, describing it as an indication that their role towards nation building is being recognized by people. She noted that she has been taking care of abandon children living with disabilities for the past 40 years and that her orphanage is currently hosting over 30 children.
She called on the Government and other humanitarian organization to support her in her endeavor to give a better life to abandon children living with disabilities.
