WINET Builds PWDs’ Capacity to Access Justice via Courts

Women Information Network (WINET), a media focused, independent, non-governmental and non-profit organization in collaboration with Justice for All (J4A) Nigeria programme/ DFID, has continued its capacity building for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Enugu State to Access Justice through the Courts.

Miriam Menkiti (Mrs.), executive director, Women Information Network (WINET) told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, that from June to July 2014, WINET studied PWDs in Enugu State to ascertain their level of awareness on how to approach the various courts covering the High, Magistrate and Customary and the gaps that exist.

Menkiti said that findings from the study show crave by the PWDs to have better understanding of the court system and how to commence cases in courts.

According to her, “The study determined whether PWDs either individually or as groups would require improved capacity for accessing and utilizing the courts. It also ascertained if the PWDs would like to be enlightened on how to utilize the courts to access justice.

“The four associations studied are the Deaf Youth Progressive Movement (DYPM) Enugu State, Enugu State Association of the Deaf, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and Enugu State Association of the Blind (Special Centre) Oji-River.

The ED, WINET disclosed another finding was the desire of the hearing impaired or deaf to have Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) when needed in Courts.

“According to them, lawyers do not easily accept them as clients because of the gap in communication, while others feel that the deaf are always angry. They explain that they are angry because people do not understand them. They however feel that they are equal with other human beings and should benefit from using the judicial system.

It is against this background that the project entitled ‘Building the Capacity of People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Enugu state to Access Justice through the Courts’ was designed by WINET. It is funded by Justice for All (J4A) Nigeria programme/Department for International Development (DFID). J4A is working towards ensuring that PWDs in Enugu State have access to justice and in keeping with this, very recently renovated a court complex in Enugu to include ramps for wheel chair accessibility,” she explained.

The project activities which they started in July 2015 included activities such as six (6) Advocacy visits to, Nigerian Bar Association Enugu State Branch; Magistrates Association of Nigeria Enugu State Chapter.

Meanwhile, Mr. Enuma Chukwu, chairman, Enugu State Magistrates Association, thanked WINET and J4A on this just cause.

He informed the advocacy team that it is constitutional and not a privilege that anyone who needs an interpreter gets one in court.

Other advocacy projects were carried out at Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice; Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly; Chairman Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on  Judiciary, Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges and Advocacy visit to Chief Judge of Enugu State represented by the Chief Registrar Enugu State High Court.

Aside paying mobilization visits to the PWD groups, Menkiti added that they have “published two training manuals for building the capacity of the PWDs to access justice through the courts they are; Procedure for Commencing Cases in Customary Courts in Enugu State – 2ND Edition 2015 and Justice Options through the Courts: A Guide for Persons with Disabilities.

At a recent capacity building workshop organized for the hearing impaired also in Enugu, with over fifty participants in attendance, Menkiti said her organization remains interested in providing the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) information to enable them to have a better understanding of the court systems and how to utilize them.

Presenting a paper on the occasion, Chief Tom Anyafulude, chief registrar of Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal, said the PWDs are like other members of the society who have the right to access justice through the courts.

Mrs. Ches Obiajulu, another resource person on the occasion and assistant secretary of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Enugu State, said that in a democracy, PWDs should be empowered to utilize the justice system.

Mr. Emeka Ude, chairman, Enugu State Association of the Deaf, expressed happiness that WINET and Justice for All (J4A) Nigeria/ DFID remembered the deaf and teaching them on justice options through the courts.

“The expected goal of the project is that people with disabilities in Enugu State have equal access to the judicial system

“The purpose is increased knowledge of justice options through the courts leading to more equal access to justice for PWDs in Enugu State

“Our objectives are to; influence ENSG to provide sign language facilities at courts for users that require them; increase understanding of a group of PWDs on how to access justice through the courts and make information on how to access justice through courts available in a form usable by PWDs.

Justice for All (J4A) programme Nigeria aims to improve the capability, accountability and responsiveness of the key organizations in the safety, security and justice sector, and supports them to work in collaboration with civil society and oversight institutions; as part of a coherent and coordinated sector.

J4A aims to improve access to justice and achieve equitable results for all, especially the poor and disadvantaged including women, children and people with disabilities.

The programme is funded by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development and is managed by the British Council. Access to justice is a fundamental human right. Disputes are common in every society, creating the need for fair formal, informal and traditional justice systems.

While, WINET is gender sensitive and works towards the dissemination of information to promote gender equality, women’s rights, human and political rights.

The organization is for training of women, peace building, media advocacy and dissemination of information on all issues relating to the advancement of women rights in the society.