From Austine Tule, Makurdi
A Physically Challenged lady, Miss Faith Yaasa, has decried the alarming rate of sexual harassment of the physically challenged women or girls by their male counterpart in recent time.
Yaasa made her feelings known on Tuesday in Makurdi while making her remarks at a symposium organised by Heartland Alliance International to mark the 2020 International Women’s Day.
The theme of the symposium was “I Am Gender Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights to Sexual and Reproductive Health”.
She lamented that the physically challenged women or girls were the most harassed in the society in recent time.
“They are harassed in schools, homes, streets even in the churches. We are the most vulnerable group of women.
“Apart from sexual harassment, we face a lot of discrimination in the society. Most mothers or sisters discourage their sons or brothers from marrying the physically challenged ladies.
“They think we do not deserve sex. Even organisations that sensitize women on family planning neglect us. This ugly development needs to be changed,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Superintendent of Correction I, Mr Fidelis Ajukura, appealed to governments, Non-governmental Organisations and individuals to partner with the Nigeria Correctional Service in order to preserve the integrity of women in detention centres.
“There is no doubt that women are among the vulnerable groups in correctional detention centres. Their nature makes them open to abuse.
“They need serious attention such as hygiene needs. Some of their needs are safe disposal arrangement for blood strained article and access to items such as sanitary pads among others,” he said.
Also, Miss Abigail Terwase, Community Member, Concerned Youth for Development Initiative, disclosed that ladies that are addicted to drugs most times indulge in commercial sex in order to get money to enable them buy drugs and in the process contract HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
