Are They not Nigerians? The Obligation of the State to End Discriminatory Practices against Persons with Disabilities

Augustine Edobor Arimoro

doi:10.1177/1358229119846764

Are They not Nigerians? The Obligation of the State to End Discriminatory Practices against Persons with Disabilities

Augustine Edobor Arimoro

Faculty of Business and Law

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Nigeria has ratified several international instruments that protect the rights of, and guarantee freedom from discrimination of persons with disabilities (PWD). Despite the above, the country is yet to fully implement the appropriate measures required to achieve the objective of protecting PWD. Successive administrations since the return to civil administration in the country in 1999 have not fulfilled the mandate in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) dealing with disability rights. While the passing into law in January 2019 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 is commendable, it only reflects the pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria by disability rights advocates and PWD. This article aims to, among others, highlight the plight of PWD in Nigeria, the need to protect their rights and guarantee their freedom from discriminatory practices. To achieve this aim, a review of international and domestic instruments, as well as literature on the subject, is undertaken. The article proposes that the Nigerian government should aim towards inclusivity and accommodation of PWD. For example, instead of merely establishing special schools for PWD, there should be a design to allow for the training of teachers to meet the needs of special children in regular schools.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	89-109
Journal	International Journal of Discrimination and the Law
Volume	19
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1358229119846764 https://doi.org/10.1177/1358229119846764
Publication status	Published - Jun 2019

Keywords

Disability rights
equality
non-discrimination
access to justice
legal capacity
Nigeria

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title = "Are They not Nigerians? The Obligation of the State to End Discriminatory Practices against Persons with Disabilities",

abstract = "Nigeria has ratified several international instruments that protect the rights of, and guarantee freedom from discrimination of persons with disabilities (PWD). Despite the above, the country is yet to fully implement the appropriate measures required to achieve the objective of protecting PWD. Successive administrations since the return to civil administration in the country in 1999 have not fulfilled the mandate in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) dealing with disability rights. While the passing into law in January 2019 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 is commendable, it only reflects the pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria by disability rights advocates and PWD. This article aims to, among others, highlight the plight of PWD in Nigeria, the need to protect their rights and guarantee their freedom from discriminatory practices. To achieve this aim, a review of international and domestic instruments, as well as literature on the subject, is undertaken. The article proposes that the Nigerian government should aim towards inclusivity and accommodation of PWD. For example, instead of merely establishing special schools for PWD, there should be a design to allow for the training of teachers to meet the needs of special children in regular schools.",

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N2 - Nigeria has ratified several international instruments that protect the rights of, and guarantee freedom from discrimination of persons with disabilities (PWD). Despite the above, the country is yet to fully implement the appropriate measures required to achieve the objective of protecting PWD. Successive administrations since the return to civil administration in the country in 1999 have not fulfilled the mandate in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) dealing with disability rights. While the passing into law in January 2019 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 is commendable, it only reflects the pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria by disability rights advocates and PWD. This article aims to, among others, highlight the plight of PWD in Nigeria, the need to protect their rights and guarantee their freedom from discriminatory practices. To achieve this aim, a review of international and domestic instruments, as well as literature on the subject, is undertaken. The article proposes that the Nigerian government should aim towards inclusivity and accommodation of PWD. For example, instead of merely establishing special schools for PWD, there should be a design to allow for the training of teachers to meet the needs of special children in regular schools.

AB - Nigeria has ratified several international instruments that protect the rights of, and guarantee freedom from discrimination of persons with disabilities (PWD). Despite the above, the country is yet to fully implement the appropriate measures required to achieve the objective of protecting PWD. Successive administrations since the return to civil administration in the country in 1999 have not fulfilled the mandate in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) dealing with disability rights. While the passing into law in January 2019 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 is commendable, it only reflects the pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria by disability rights advocates and PWD. This article aims to, among others, highlight the plight of PWD in Nigeria, the need to protect their rights and guarantee their freedom from discriminatory practices. To achieve this aim, a review of international and domestic instruments, as well as literature on the subject, is undertaken. The article proposes that the Nigerian government should aim towards inclusivity and accommodation of PWD. For example, instead of merely establishing special schools for PWD, there should be a design to allow for the training of teachers to meet the needs of special children in regular schools.

KW - Disability rights

KW - equality

KW - non-discrimination

KW - access to justice

KW - legal capacity

KW - Nigeria

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JO - International Journal of Discrimination and the Law

JF - International Journal of Discrimination and the Law

IS - 2

ER -

Are They not Nigerians? The Obligation of the State to End Discriminatory Practices against Persons with Disabilities

Abstract

Keywords

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