Citizenship and political participation

In many countries, governance systems are not inclusive, and people with disabilities are excluded from participating fully in society.

They may experience barriers when trying to vote, stand for election, speak out and influence public policies. This can be because of stigma, discrimination, inaccessible environments and a lack of access to education and financial resources.

Unequal participation in politics means the concerns of people with disabilities are not fully taken into account by decision-makers. Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities states people with disabilities should fully and effectively participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others.

Making citizenship and political participation inclusive helps to address inequality and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

Sightsavers works in partnership with disability organisations to make sure the voices of people with disabilities are heard. We support the people we work with to take part in decision-making processes at local, national and global levels. As part of our campaigning work, we’re urging countries to ratify the African Disability Protocol to implement inclusive legislation.

Watch the video below to see how we support young people with disabilities in Sierra Leone to be leaders in their communities.