Equal Access: Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Electoral Process

UNDP Ethiopia together with the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) organized a 3-day BRIDGE workshop on Equal Access: Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process for the various stakeholders: Disability assessment consultants, Representatives of the NEBE Advisory Group, including CSOs working on accessibility issues and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC); and NEBE’s GESI team and selected experts (HR, Legal, Voter Education, Training, M&E, Political party liason, etc.) from NEBE core departments. The workshop overarching aim was to raise Disability Advisory Group’s awareness about the disability and inclusion, enabling them to support NEBE in overseeing accessibility assessments more effectively. The workshop was held from 28 to 30 October 2024. The workshop was facilitated by two international facilitators Natia Kashakashvili and Shalva Tskhakaya. Twenty five participants (13 female and 12 male) representing the NEBE, CSOs, and the Audit company attended the workshop.

This workshop aimed to address the critical issue of ensuring equal access and full participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in electoral processes. In alignment with international obligations and commitments, this program emphasizes the importance of promoting inclusive and accessible electoral systems to uphold the rights of all citizens, regardless of physical or intellectual ability.

The workshop was opened and participants welcomed by the UNDP Resident Representative Semuel Doe and NEBE board member Bizuwork Ketete. Persons with disabilities face multifaceted barriers that hinder their full inclusion in electoral processes, such as physical inaccessibility, discriminatory social attitudes, and inadequate provisions in election management practices. This workshop explored these barriers and offer solutions to remove them, fostering an inclusive political environment. Workshop covered following themes and topics:

1. International Obligations and Equal Access Guarantees: Explore international human rights frameworks, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and their implications for inclusive electoral processes.
2. Potential Barriers to Electoral Participation: Identify and discuss the social, physical, political, and economic barriers that prevent PWDs from full electoral participation.
3. Stakeholders’ Role in Advancing Access for Persons with Disabilities: Discuss the roles of governments, EMBs, donor agencies, DPOs, and NGOs in creating accessible and inclusive electoral processes.
4. Strategies to Promote Access Throughout the Electoral Cycle: Develop strategies for promoting access at every phase of the electoral cycle, from pre-election planning to post-election analysis and reform.
5. Confronting Barriers and Enhancing Access: Present success stories and best practices that have helped overcome barriers in electoral participation for persons with disabilities.
6. EMBs Advancing Disability Access: Understand the role of EMBs in ensuring that electoral processes are inclusive through disability inclusion policies, election access audits, and other strategic reforms.
7. Post-Election Planning for the Roadmap: Outline the steps for post-election reporting, planning, and implementing long-term strategies for ensuring full participation of PWDs in future elections.

Expected Outcomes:

• Increased awareness and understanding of the barriers to electoral participation for persons with disabilities.
• Development of practical tools and strategies for removing barriers and ensuring full inclusion.
• A roadmap for post-election planning, highlighting the steps for continuous improvement in access and inclusion.
• Strengthened networks between advocacy groups, EMBs, and policymakers to work collaboratively on advancing disability inclusion.

This workshop provided participants with the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to ensure that elections are accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities. By engaging key stakeholders and promoting long-term reforms, this workshop will contribute to fulfilling the right to political participation for all citizens, thereby strengthening democracy and upholding human rights.

The participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the training sessions, highlighting various aspects that they found particularly valuable. A key takeaway was the identification of different types of barriers to participation, which many attendees found eye-opening. The interactive nature of the sessions, especially group activities and discussions, fostered a collaborative learning environment. Participants appreciated the practical exercises that contextualized international instruments within the electoral cycle, helping them understand their relevance to their own contexts, particularly regarding the legal obligations for equal access in elections.

Feedback regarding the course content and its delivery was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees noted the engaging methodology and the adult learning approach employed throughout the training. While the sessions were informative and well-structured, some participants suggested that the afternoon sessions felt a bit lengthy and could benefit from more breaks to maintain energy levels. Many participants expressed a desire for additional resources, such as soft copies of training materials and more case studies that illustrate individual experiences with barriers during elections, to further enrich their understanding. Below are some of the quoted participants’ feedback:

• “Identifying the different types of barriers were eye opening as it gives us ways on how to tackle the problem.”
• “It was very interesting day. I have learned that inclusion issues are not hard to reach or expensive; rather, little changes can bring bigger impact. It made me to think about what to change in my departmental activities.”
• “The overall contents that we have went through for the previous three days are a stepping stone to review and readjust the overall documents and practices at NEBE in line with disability inclusion.”

Overall, participants felt that the training was a crucial step towards promoting disability inclusion within electoral processes. They highlighted the importance of strategies discussed for integrating disability considerations into electoral management, emphasizing the impact that small changes can have in fostering inclusivity. The facilitators were praised for their effective time management and engaging delivery, with requests for future training sessions to explore more electoral topics. This feedback underscores a strong commitment to applying the insights gained to enhance their work with persons with disabilities in electoral contexts.

The workshop was officially closed by UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Charu Bist and the NEBE chairperson Melatwork Hailu. At the end of the workshop all participants were awarded certificates of completion.