Women in Osun State have joined their counterparts across the world to mark the International Women’s Day with special focus on the negligence and stigmatisation of women with disabilities.

Speakers at the forum organised by the Osun Agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP‎) advocated for the inclusion of the physically challenged in policy implementation to give them a sense of acceptability in the society.

‎The General Manager of Osun CSDP, Mrs Funmi Abokede, said at the gathering that urgent action needs to be taken to accelerate gender equality, in order for women to have access to the same rights as their male counterparts.

Other speakers at the event which included the Women Coordinator for Women with Disability Group, Funmilayo Abdullah, and a representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice in Osun State, Barrister Omotayo Babalola, gave their thoughts on negligence of the physically challenged.

They also advocated the need to include 35% of their special needs in the formulation of policies by government, to make them acceptable in the society and also ensure that Federal and State laws accommodate the welfare of the physically challenged.

The International Women’s Day is held annually on March 8 to celebrate the numerous achievements made by women across the globe and the theme for 2016 is ‘Pledge for Parity’.