March 8th, every year is usually set aside to celebrate women all over the world and it is known as International Women’s Day. This is the time to examine how Women are faring globally, while designing strategies for women’s empowerment and gender equality. The Theme for this year’s celebration is: CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE.
The National President JONAPWD and Executive Director of FACICP DISABILITY PLUS Ms Ekaete Judith Umoh was actively involved as she joined the Nigerian Women, Hon. Minister of Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Dame Pauline Tallen and Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to celebrate this year international women held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja on the 8th of March 2021.
Speaking on a high level panel, she CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE THE INVISIBILITY OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN THE WOMEN’S SPACE, therefore stressed the need for the women’s movement to open the space to accommodate women with disabilities on the Women’s Agenda. She emphasis the fact that women with disabilities makes up to 20% of the general women’s population and that it they are too large a number to be ignored in any gender and development efforts. She concluded by thanking the Honorable Minister for her inclusive nature towards the issue of women with disabilities in her Ministry and pleaded with her to do more.
Immediately after celebration, the National President took part in a high level table discussion with the visiting Executive Director of the UNAIDS, Ms. Winnie Byanyima, where she stressed the need for UN Women to design all-inclusive strategy for effective inclusion women with disabilities in their programs, especially on HIV/AIDS programming. Present at the Round table were Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, among other dignitaries.
