We beg because of maltreatment from our homes

Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Revelation has emerged from the People Living with Disabilities in Bauchi state that most of them are into begging for survival due to maltreatment and stigmatization from homes.

The representative of a Non-Governmental organization known as Heal Initiative Development, Aisha Adamu who made the revelation in Bauchi on Thursday alleged that they are sometimes sexually abused.

Aisha Adamu who was delivering a goodwill message during a one day programme to mark 16 days of activism organized by the Development Exchange Center, Bauchi said most of their challenges often comes from their parents.

According to her, most of the challenges PWDs often face starts from their parents at home and by extension, the community, adding that, “for example, when parents give birth to a disabled child, they begin maltreating them as if they are not humans.

Their needs are not being catered for and they are treated with disdain”.

Aisha who decried that People Living With Disabilities starts facing stigmatization and low self esteem in their hearts by not been catered for even by their immediate family, added that from there, they become not useful in the society.

“When a child faces such stigmatization from home, he or she is not sent to school, needs are not provided for and because he is humiliated and despised at home, they end up begging on the streets especially the female child”, Aisha said.

“The moment she starts begging for alms, that is when miscreants will take advantage and abuse her sexually, emotionally and sometimes even physically.

This happens because they see you cheaply looking dirty without help and they take advantage of you”, she further explained.

“Even if they rape you and impregnate you, nobody will fight and get justice for you because you are a disabled person as if it was your making.

So, we call on the government to also prosecute perpetrators of sexual and gender based violence to serve as deterrent to others,” she stated.

On her part, the Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Bauchi State office, Yachit Dala decried the rising cases of violence in the home, adding that children end up being affected.

“We have rising cases of domestic violence. Most of the cases we have are spouse beating their spouse; apart from physical violence, there is also psychological, emotional and economic violence where a spouse is deprived of going out to work or intentionally depriving them of upkeep of the family.

The children are most affected because of their vulnerability.