People with disabilities in South Sudan are calling for greater inclusion in the country’s electoral process and equal opportunities to participate in the upcoming elections.
South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution guarantees people with disabilities participation in society and the enjoyment of rights and freedoms, including access to education, employment and public services.
Rose Adii Mose, an advocate for people with disabilities, told Radio Tamazuj that those with hearing impairments often struggle to access important information about the electoral process.
She said women and girls with disabilities face additional discrimination and violence and are often excluded from public life.
“We must not forget women and young women with disabilities, who are frequently left behind. Many face layered discrimination and violence simply for being women and living with a disability. They need to be empowered and included as full members of society,” she said.
Mose said people with hearing impairments are missing important updates as South Sudan prepares for its planned elections.
“It is essential to raise awareness so persons with disabilities can participate in the electoral process. We have capable individuals within our community who could even contest for office and help lead the country,” she said.
She identified access to information as one of the biggest challenges, saying electoral information is often not provided on time or in accessible formats.
Physical access to venues is another major barrier, she said, with some meeting places difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to reach.
Mose said the rights of people with disabilities continue to be violated despite constitutional guarantees and South Sudan’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“There is an ongoing violation of our basic rights. We are not given equal opportunities to exercise those rights,” she said.
Meanwhile, Edmond Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said people with disabilities should have the same political rights as other citizens, including the right to contest elections.
“We must see dedicated slots allocated to persons with disabilities across all electoral pathways offered by political parties, whether on geographical constituency lists, party lists, women’s lists or youth lists,” Yakani said.
“Persons with disabilities must be part and parcel of all party nominations. Non-discrimination in political engagement means ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal rights to participate not only as voters, but also as candidates.”
Yakani called on political parties to ensure that people with disabilities could participate fully in the electoral process and stand for elected office.
He also called on the government to include people with disabilities in any future political appointments.
“If there are special quota appointments for party leaders within the upcoming government, dedicated slots must also be reserved for persons with disabilities across their diverse categories,” he said.
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