The United Nations Integrated Election Assistance Team (IEAT) in South Sudan, in cooperation with the National Election Commission (NEC) of South Sudan, is organising a 4-day BRIDGE modular workshop on Disability Rights and Elections. The workshop brings together diverse electoral stakeholders in South Sudan to address the critical need for meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in democratic processes. This comprehensive training initiative recognizes that electoral accessibility is not merely a legal requirement but a fundamental democratic principle that ensures all citizens can exercise their right to vote and participate in political life. Through interactive sessions, practical assessments, and collaborative planning, participants will develop the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to identify and dismantle barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully engaging in electoral processes. The workshop emphasizes the shared responsibility of all stakeholders – from NEC/SHEC to civil society organizations and disability rights advocates – in creating an inclusive electoral environment that upholds the democratic values of equality and participation for all citizens.

Workshop Objectives

1. Establish foundational understanding of disability inclusion principles and legal obligations in electoral contexts, ensuring all participants recognize electoral participation as a fundamental right
2. Categorize accessibility barriers and analyze the impact of these barriers on electoral participation rates of persons with disabilities
3. Explore reasonable accommodations that can be implemented within existing legal frameworks and resource constraints
4. Map barriers systematically that exist throughout the electoral cycle, from planning to post-election processes, enabling targeted intervention strategies
5. Develop stakeholder-specific strategies for promoting access and inclusion, recognizing the unique roles and responsibilities of different electoral actors
6. Examine successful initiatives by Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and learn from proven models of electoral accessibility implementation
7. Build institutional capacity for embedding disability inclusion within electoral management structures and processes
8. Learn from international best practices and success stories that can be adapted to the South Sudanese context
9. Conduct practical assessments of polling location accessibility using standardized audit tools and methodologies
10. Explore technological solutions that can enhance election access and inclusion for persons with various types of disabilities
11. Create collaborative roadmaps that identify specific challenges and establish concrete measures for advancing electoral accessibility in South Sudan
12. Foster partnerships between electoral stakeholders and disability rights organizations to ensure sustained commitment to inclusive electoral practices

This workshop is part of an ongoing series of BRIDGE workshops launched in April 2024, as part of a broader capacity development program. The program aims to:

1. Enhance the NEC’s understanding of electoral principles, practices, and election management across the electoral cycle;
2. Raise awareness among targeted stakeholders on key electoral issues; and
3. Develop a pool of qualified facilitators in South Sudan capable of effectively utilizing the BRIDGE curriculum to deliver workshops on electoral topics, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders.

By focusing on these goals, the workshop seeks to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and secure electoral environment in South Sudan.