PUBLIC URGED TO DEMAND ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY IN GHANA.

Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF); an organization that promotes the development of young people earlier this month held a stakeholders consultation forum which was centred on a current project that is being implemented.

The project “Access to Justice for Youth and Persons with Disabilities” seeks to build the capacities of young people in the various Laws and Policies that are formulated in their interest, and to engage Persons with Disabilities in decision making both locally and nationally.

The Human Rights Watch estimates that more than 5 million people with disabilities live in Ghana. Equally alarming is the disclosure by the department of Social Welfare (Ghana) that 45% of Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are visually impaired, with an overwhelming 73.4% the youth dominating the Ghanaian population. The implication is that, a large number of youth suffer from a form of disability and visual impairment. Unfortunately, these young people are confronted with limited access to education, unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, negative socio- cultural perception and stigmatization.

In a welcome address given by the Executive Director of the YBF, Mr. Seth Oteng, he stated that the organization’s commitment is to the development of the different groups of young people in society. He added that young people are unable to take part in decision making due to the fact that policies and well enhanced initiatives are not understood by most young people. Therefore, the focus of the project is to help in the dissemination of the Justice for Children Policy with PWDs being involved in the process. He reiterated that YBF looks forward to engaging young people in various communities to educate them on their rights and the content of the Child and Family welfare policy.

A YBF focal person in the Central Region had urged that, children and young people are made aware of the mandate of the various human rights institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit (DOVVSU), so they can report issues of abuse meted out to them.

Under the project that is being implemented, a drama series titled “PUZZLED” has been produced to educate children and young people on some forms of abuse which most individuals now consider as norms in society but have hazardous effects on children. The series is expected to be premiered by the end of October this year. It would be discussed on various media platforms to ensure that, a large number of individuals are reached with the information and education to protect and respect the rights of every child and ensure their wellbeing.

Mavis Naa Korley Aryee

Student; Ghana Institute of Journalism.

Member: CYIB-Curious Minds