Abia State holds workshops on justice access and rights

In Umuahia, Abia State, capacity-building workshops were held to improve access to justice and protect the rights of vulnerable groups.

One initiative, supported by the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), focused on gender-based violence (GBV). Experts urged police officers and prosecutors to conduct diligent investigations, preserve forensic evidence, and handle survivors with sensitivity to avoid investigative gaps in court. The training aimed to strengthen the implementation of legislation protecting women and girls.

A separate workshop, organized by the Abia State Commission for Welfare of Persons with Disabilities and supported by RoLAC II, trained persons with disabilities (PWDs) on leadership, advocacy, and inclusive governance. Commission Chairman Dr. David Anyaele noted that despite the 2022 Disability Law, many PWDs still face barriers to justice due to a lack of accommodations and sign language interpreters.