The Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) has called on the media to engage directly with organizations of persons with disabilities and accurately cover issues affecting them. This call was made during a media engagement sponsored by HIVOS, focused on the theme, "Navigating Choice: Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities".
Bilikisu Yakubu, National Coordinator of AWWDI, emphasized the need for media to portray disability-related concerns truthfully. “If we have challenges, concerns, or anything involving persons with disabilities, we want the media to portray these issues accurately. We might not always speak in 'big' words, but we can still express ourselves,” Yakubu said. She also addressed the negative impact of charity-based perspectives, stressing that these often patronizing comments harm the mental health of persons with disabilities.
Yakubu further acknowledged the existence of the Disability Rights Law, but pointed out the lack of awareness and proper implementation. "The law addresses issues like charity and medical models and imposes fines for discrimination, but many people aren’t familiar with it," she explained.
Kola Jayeoba , Program Officer at AWWDI, also highlighted the importance of inclusivity in media coverage. "The media should tell the real story, not cut off the important aspects, especially when it comes to inclusivity," Jayeoba stated.
"We want the world to understand us as capable individuals, not just victims."
Both Yakubu and Jayeoba emphasized the right of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, to access sexual and reproductive health services without discrimination. Yakubu concluded, "It is our fundamental human right—to access all forms of sexual and reproductive services without prejudice."
The event, which brought together various media professionals, aimed to raise awareness and push for greater representation of persons with disabilities in mainstream media, particularly on issues concerning sexual and reproductive health rights.