OSCE workshop on political participation of persons with disabilities takes place in Skopje

Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life was the focus of an OSCE Mission to Skopje-organized workshop that took place on 28 September 2017 in Skopje.

The workshop, organized in co-operation with the country’s Inter-Party Parliamentarian Group for Persons with Disabilities, tackled the challenges that persons with disabilities face while exercising their democratic rights, including the right to elect and be elected.

“The political participation of persons with disabilities is nothing else but a part of our basic human rights and freedoms. It includes not only the right to elect and be elected, but it goes far beyond this – meaning the active participation of our fellow citizens in the creation and implementation of various policies,” said Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi.

Gonzalo de Cesare, Head of the Human Dimension Department of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, said: “Today state and non-state stakeholders, including disabled persons organizations, had the rare opportunity to discuss the various barriers which continue to prevent many persons with disabilities from exercising their political rights. The principle of non-discrimination reminds us that a life free from discrimination is a fundamental right of all people.”

“The slogan “Nothing about us without us” perfectly expresses this right and in particular the right of disabled persons to political participation, he said. “The OSCE Mission to Skopje has adopted this slogan to guide it in its work.”

“We are witnessing times where persons with disabilities are excluded from public and political life. In these past years, since the independence of the state, no person with disability was elected as mayor, member of parliament or minister. A fully inclusive political process with the active involvement and participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life is not only a benefit for the disability community, but a benefit for the whole society,” said Elena Kochoska, a disability activist.

The discussion helped identify specific challenges in promoting the political participation of people with disabilities and provided ideas for concrete action that could bring positive results in the national context.