Disability Rights Activist Demands Inclusive for Persons with Disabilities in The Up coming election

By Celina Kadi Ali

Disability rights activist Catherine Vicencio has called on the government, the National Elections Commission, and political parties to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in South Sudan’s upcoming general elections.

Speaking ahead of the elections, Vicencio said persons with disabilities are equal citizens who must be given the opportunity to participate in the country’s democratic process.

“As the election is coming, persons with disabilities are also part and parcel of this nation. They are citizens of this nation and they are ready to vote. They are also ready to become candidates in this election,”she said.

Vicencio urged the National Elections Commission to provide accessible voter and civic education to ensure persons with disabilities understand the electoral process and can participate effectively.

“We need opportunity for voter education and civic education, and we need to train persons with disabilities on how they can vote and stand in the election,” she said.

She also called for polling stations to be made accessible and for election materials to be produced in formats suitable for people with visual and hearing impairments.

“During the election, we need polling stations to be accessible for all persons with disabilities so that they can vote freely. They also need to translate voter education into Braille and make it accessible for people with hearing impairment,” Vicencio said.

The activist further appealed to political parties to ensure greater political representation of persons with disabilities. “Persons with disabilities need to be represented in politics, and they have the right to stand in the election,” she added.

Sharing her experience during South Sudan’s 2011 independence referendum, Vicencio said she was initially prevented from entering a polling station with her personal assistant because election officials did not trust the arrangement.

“I told them that I have the right to vote because I cannot trust anyone else. I have my personal assistant so that I can vote,”she recalled.

She urged election officials to allow voters with disabilities to be accompanied by assistants or interpreters they trust.

“Please don’t ignore persons with disabilities. If a visually impaired person comes with their personal assistant, give them the right to vote because this is the person they trust. People with hearing impairment should also be allowed to come with their interpreter,”she said.

Vicencio concluded by calling on the government, electoral authorities, and political parties to make the upcoming elections inclusive, accessible, and respectful of the rights of persons with disabilities.