Public Independent Conciliator : Institution Reaches Out To Disabled

The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator for the North West took its sensitisation message to people living with disabilities. The event which took place at the Baptist Centre in Nkwen-Bamenda brought together visually impaired united under the banner of Hope Social Union for the Visually Impaired (HSUVI) the physically disabled under the banner of the Community Centre for Women and Girls with Disability.
In their characteristic manner, there were three presentations. First was a presentation on the creation, organisation and functioning of the PIC, which was done by the Research Officer No. 1, Ndi Nelson. This was followed by a presentation on the rights of citizens to participate in council affairs and development by Research Officer No. 4, Atia Tilarius.  The third and last presentation dwelled on the complaint mechanism and method of amicable settlement of differences by Executive Officer, Gorji Rais.
On why the PIC chose the disabled, Ndi Nelson said people living with disabilities suffer from discrimination and marginalisation in the society, hence the need to assure them they have equal rights as any other citizen and even special rights because of their disabilities. He said the PIC mission was not only limited to sensitisation as they have been organising capacity building seminars for all stakeholders including Mayors, Secretary Generals and all those involved in councils. He disclosed that they have also been settling differences between the population and councils and that in 2021, they received 30 complaints, in 2022, they recei...