The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called for the inclusion of people living with disabilities in the judicial panel of inquiries been set up by state governments on the atrocities committed by operatives of the disbanded Police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
CDD in a statement on Monday by its Executive Director, David Anyaele, urged the state governments to ensure that venues for the panels sittings are accessible to people living with disabilities.
The group which commended the governments for probing the activities of SARS, the police tactical unit operations increased the number of people living with disabilities.
Anyaele stated: “Recognizing that the operations of SARS has caused untold hardship on so many families who loss their loved ones who is either the breadwinner of the family or is being looked up to after spending so much to give him/her education.
“We are concerned that the population of persons with disabilities has consistently increased as a result of modus operandi of SARS. Unfortunately, many people suffered disability during the protests as a result of excessive use of force by the security operatives. This is most condemnable.
“As laudable as the effort of the States and Federal government to inquire on the operations of SARS and its effect on the citizenry, CCD is worried that none of these Committees set up has the representatives of persons with disabilities either at the State or Federal level, the community of people mostly increased and affected”.
The CCD therefore called on the States Panel of enquiries on SARS to consider the following:
- Take measure to include person(s) with disabilities as member(s) of the panel in their various States.
- Ensure the venues for sittings are accessible to persons with disabilities in line with Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 should they decide to appear before the panel.
- The communication of the panel should be made accessible to persons with disabilities. Where a person with hearing impairment appear 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.
