21/09/2026
On 15th September 2026, the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), with support from the Fund for Global Human Rights through Spaces for Change (S4C) and in partnership with the Action Group on Free Civic Space, successfully oganised a Capacity Building Workshop for Security Officers on Strengthening Security Sector Reforms for Disability-Inclusive Service Delivery and Protection of Civic Space Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Oyo State.
The workshop brought together representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice, National Human Rights Commission, JONAPWD, Nigerian Red Cross Society, government institutions, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society organisations, and the media to strengthen their knowledge and collaboration around disability rights and open civic space protection.
The Acting Director, Mr. Godwin Unumeri ably represented by the Finance and Admin Manager, Mrs. Florence Austin welcomed participants to the event and commended the Fund for Global Human Rights for the support in partnership Action Group on Free Civic Space. He stated that the experiences of citizens, including PWDs has shown that security-sector reform was needed, not only to strengthen the capacity of security agencies to maintain order, but to also protect citizens’ rights and preserve civic space. According to him, “the objective of security-sector reform should consequently be to move from a model that merely controls civic space to one that protects civic space while maintaining public safety.”
The Spaces for Change Executive Director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri ably represented by the Civic Space Programme officer and Coordinator of the Action Group on Free Civic Space, Mr. Testimony Omole commended CCD for organizing the training for security officers, particularly on security sector reforms for disability-inclusive service delivery, aimed towards strengthening the security system to make arrangement on how they can better serve people, particularly PWDs. He therefore, urged security agencies to always play their role in safeguarding the rights of PWDs and ensure the protection of their civic space rights.
Participants explored key issues including disability rights and civic space rights - freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, freedom of association, accessible communication, human rights-based security practices, security sector reforms, and practical actions for implementing disability-inclusive service delivery. The technical sessions increased security officers' understanding of their responsibilities towards protecting the civic rights of persons with disabilities.
A major highlight of the workshop was the group work, where participants jointly participated in the Dlevelopment of Guidelines on Persons with Disabilities’ Rights and Civic Space Protection for Security Agencies in Oyo State. The guidelines promote accessible communication, reasonable accommodation, non-discrimination, protection of peaceful civic participation, complaint and referral mechanisms, and stronger collaboration with OPDs among others.
The workshop also secured important commitments from participating security agencies, including disability-inclusive training, accessible complaint systems, protection of civic space rights, disability-friendly policing, stronger institutional collaboration, and improved access to justice for persons with disabilities.
The CCD is committed to advocating for a security sector that is inclusive, accessible, accountable, and committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and meaningful civic participation of persons with disabilities across Oyo State.