On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, OSCE/ODIHR Director underlines importance of making voting processes accessible for all
WARSAW, 3 December 2018 ─ On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called on participating States to take measures to further ensure that electoral processes and information are accessible to persons with disabilities.
“Across the OSCE region, persons with disabilities face various obstacles to exercising their right to vote and be elected. This includes restrictions on legal capacity, inaccessible polling stations and electoral information, as well as limited support and lack of knowledge among electoral officials,” said Ingibjörg Gísladóttir. “OSCE participating States should increase their efforts to make electoral rights available to persons with different kinds of disabilities on an equal basis with others, in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards.”
The right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections is a fundamental right that should be protected for all, including persons with disabilities, without discrimination. Equal and effective participation in elections, as voters, candidates and election officials, is a prerequisite to guaranteeing that persons with disabilities are participating in political and public life, and are contributing their experiences, views and opinions to decision-making processes.
Through awareness-raising activities and positive practice exchange, the Office encourages political parties, parliaments, public officials and civil society to recognize the prevailing invisibility of persons with disabilities in public life and to take steps in becoming more inclusive and representative. Using the methodology outlined in the Handbook on Observing and Promoting the Electoral Participation of Persons with Disabilities, ODIHR election observers identify the legal and practical barriers that obstruct inclusion. They also monitor the extent to which persons with disabilities are actively participating in elections as voters, candidates and election officials, and recommend improvements.