Enabling political participation of women with disabilities the focus of OSCE/ODIHR event in Vienna
Promoting the full and equal participation of women with disabilities in political and public life was the focus of discussions at a conference organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Vienna on 16 and 17 April 2018.
Over 90 parliamentarians and representatives of OSCE delegations, academia and civil society, including women’s networks and disabled people’s organizations, participated in the event.
“Ensuring equal opportunities for and the full inclusion of women in society is the responsibility of each OSCE participating State,” said Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, First Deputy Director of ODIHR. “This includes making sure that no one is left behind, that no one falls victim to discrimination, and that all women can use their potential and abilities to the benefit of their communities.”
The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of the underrepresentation of women with disabilities in decision-making positions, political parties and parliaments across the OSCE region, and to generate recommendations to enable their full and effective participation.
Improving accessibility measures, increasing co-operation between women’s networks and disability rights organizations and implementing mentorship programmes, support and capacity-building initiatives were among the recommendations made by participants.
“All elected bodies, at the national, regional and local levels, have to take the lead in making the practical changes needed to enable disabled people to participate fully in political life,” said Ashley Graczyk, Member of the City of Edinburgh Council.
The conference was organized with the support of the Italian Chairmanship of the OSCE, the delegations of the United States and Finland and the OSCE Secretariat Gender Section. The event was part of the ODIHR project Our Right to Participate – Promoting the Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Political and Public Life.