UNDP publishes guidelines on political participation of persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities
Today, on international day of persons with disabilities, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Inclusion International launched guidelines on political participation of persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, with an Easy Read version. The lead author of the publication is Oliver Lewis, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers.
The publication was funded by the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and launched at an online event today co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Denmark, Finland and New Zealand to the UN in New York.
‘Psychosocial disabilities’ is the term used by international human rights bodies. In the UK, ‘mental health problems’ is more commonly used.
The 88-page publication has been written for an array of electoral stakeholders: governments, election management bodies, parliamentarians, judges, national human rights institutions, election observation organisations, non-governmental organisations (including organisations of persons with disabilities), service providers, political parties, media, and intergovernmental organisations / embassies.
The practical guidance contains a set of 45 indicators designed for stakeholders to measure electoral inclusion in any country, and then to create action plans for reform. The indicators derive from a literature review, an analysis of international human rights law, and the results of focus groups held in 24 countries in which 133 people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities took part.
In his foreword, Gerard Quinn, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, said:
“This publication marks a useful and highly constructive contribution to the debates about how to identify and remove barriers and how to create a genuinely inclusive political process. It deserves to be read by policy-makers and civil society alike. Making the new politics of disability real will help in its own way to keeping civic space open. In this way, advancing inclusion for person with disabilities in the democratic process has a broader democratic dividend. This is exactly what the world needs at this moment in history.”
Miyeon Kim, Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, said:
“Rest assured that at the Committee we will be using this publication to continue working with our government partners to shape a world in which all persons have the right to equal political and electoral participation so that no-one is left behind. I look forward to working together with project partners on this publication and enabling all members of a society, including those with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, to fully participate in governing of their societies.”
Mark Mapemba, Vice-President of Inclusion International, said:
“For people with intellectual disabilities, our votes are our voices. This is one of the ways that people make choices in their lives. It is a must for governments to make sure there is access for people with intellectual disabilities so we have no problems when it comes to voting – we need to understand the information, showing up to vote should be accessible, and the results should be easy for everyone to understand. These guidelines will help governments take action to make sure that political participation is accessible to everyone.”
Oliver Lewis accepts instructions on electoral inclusion from intergovernmental organisations, governments, election management bodies and NGOs. For further information please contact the Doughty Street International clerk Naomi Smith.
