Publications

A collection of publications that share ideas, expertise, best practices and general information related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in political processes.
Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Nepal's 2022 General Elections
Nepal

Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Nepal's 2022 General Elections

Updated: October 2023
The Government of Nepal held general elections for members of the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assemblies (PA) on November 20, 2022. To observe election accessibility and participation of voters with disabilities, the Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN), with support from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), conducted an independent study, on Access ...
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Assessment on Access to Political Processes in Ukraine
Ukraine

Assessment on Access to Political Processes in Ukraine

Updated: October 2023
In 2015, an assessment was carried out to determine how accessible Ukrainian political processes were for persons with disabilities. The research focused on an analysis of international and national legal instruments used in Ukraine such as the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Constituion of ...
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Election Observation Report: Guyana 2023
Guyana

Election Observation Report: Guyana 2023

Updated: October 2023
The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), with support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems under the USAID Youth Advocacy, Linkages, Leadership in Elections and Society (Youth ALLIES) Program, engaged in a rigorous election access observation mission for Guyana's 2023 local government elections. The report methodology integrates ...
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Enabling the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and Implementation Plan
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Asia and the Pacific

Enabling the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and Implementation Plan

Updated: November 2021
This policy paper is intended to highlight to ASEAN policy makers and stakeholders that the ACRF and its related Implementation Plan could be further strengthened through the application of The ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Enabling Masterplan) and considering specific disability inclusion actions. This policy paper sets ...
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National and Regional Strategic Plans on Disability

Global

National and Regional Strategic Plans on Disability

Updated: August 2021
In 2011, the World Bank released a comprehensive list of regional and national disability plans. The list was last updated in February 2013.  
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Accessible Elections for Persons with Disabilities in Five Southeast Asian Countries
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Asia and the Pacific

Accessible Elections for Persons with Disabilities in Five Southeast Asian Countries

Updated: August 2021
Developed for AGENDA by the Center for Election Access of Citizens with Disabilities (PPUA Penca) in Jakarta, Indonesia Countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam   Excerpt:   Written by Heppy Sebayang, Program Manager at PPUA-AGENDA PPUA Penca, with the support of partner organizations that are members of AGENDA, has ...
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Electoral Rights for Voters with Disabilities
Albania

Electoral Rights for Voters with Disabilities

Updated: August 2021
A research report, published in 2012 by the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation and the Civil Rights Defenders, shares the results of a two-part study on the level of accessibility in Albanian polling places and on the participation trends of persons with disabilities in electoral processes.   
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Policy Platform of Pacific Island Youth
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Asia and the Pacific

Policy Platform of Pacific Island Youth

Updated: July 2021
The University of the South Pacific Student Association (USPSA), with support from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), developed a policy platform with priorities for change in the areas of disability rights, education and youth. An article detailing the policy platform can be found below and the full platform is ...
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Ensuring People with Disabilities are Involved in Political Life during COVID-19

Global

Ensuring People with Disabilities are Involved in Political Life during COVID-19

Updated: February 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened existing inequalities for people with disabilities. To ensure inclusive governance during the pandemic response, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is adapting our disability inclusion programming in several ways, including: Developing an app with DPO partners in Myanmar to disseminate information on the virus ...
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COVID-19 Response and Recovery Policy Platform
Nepal

COVID-19 Response and Recovery Policy Platform

Updated: November 2020
In October 2020, the Nepal Disabled Women Associate (NDWA) and the women with disabilities who participated in the International Foundation for Electoral Systems' (IFES) Power to Persuade program designed a new policy platform with requests for inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery. The recommendations are attached below in English and Nepali. 
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The ASEAN Enabling Masterplan and COVID-19 Response Factsheet
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Asia and the Pacific

The ASEAN Enabling Masterplan and COVID-19 Response Factsheet

Updated: October 2020
In 2018, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) released the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a regional policy document that calls on all ASEAN bodies and member states to integrate disability rights.   The COVID-19 and the Enabling Masterplan's easy-to-read factsheet includes descriptions ...
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IFES COVID-19 Briefing Series: Inclusion and Meaningful Political Participation

Global

IFES COVID-19 Briefing Series: Inclusion and Meaningful Political Participation

Updated: October 2020
In July 2020, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) published Inclusion and Meaningful Political Participation as part of the IFES COVID-19 Briefing Series. This paper provides an overview of the potential obstacles that a number of people face while exercising their political rights during a crisis such as COVID-19, ...
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UN Women Declaration at UN Conference of States Parties to the CRPD

Global

UN Women Declaration at UN Conference of States Parties to the CRPD

Updated: October 2019
On June 12, IFES and UN Women co-sponsored an event at the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). During the “High-Level Meeting of Women with Disabilities in Political and Public Leadership: Toward Beijing+25,” more than 20 women leaders with disabilities ...
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Civic Engagement Toolkit for Self-Advocates
United States

Civic Engagement Toolkit for Self-Advocates

Updated: July 2019
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a grassroots disability rights organization run by and for autistic people which works to advance civil rights, support self-advocacy in all its forms, and improve public perceptions of autism. ASAN's activities include public policy advocacy, the development of autistic cultural activities, and leadership ...
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Nepal Disabled Women's Association (NDWA) Policy Platform
Nepal

Nepal Disabled Women's Association (NDWA) Policy Platform

Updated: June 2019
In 2018, Nepal Disabled Women's Assocation (NDWA), a women with disabilities organization, organized a workshop including women with disabilites from five districts across the country to determine priorities for policy change. The final policy platform is available below in English and Nepali.
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Real Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Vote in European Parliamentary Elections
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Europe and Eurasia

Real Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Vote in European Parliamentary Elections

Updated: May 2019
In 2019, the European Economic and Social Committee published "Real Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Vote in European Parliament Elections: Information Report", a document that includes discussion of barriers encountered by persons with disabilities in Europe. An accessible PDF of the report is available below.
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Political Participation of Women and Men with Disabilities in Tunisia: An IFES Assessment
Tunisia

Political Participation of Women and Men with Disabilities in Tunisia: An IFES Assessment

Updated: May 2019
In December 2018, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) published "Political Participation of Women and Men with Disabilities in Tunisia: An IFES Assessment", a document that outlines barriers to and opportunities for persons with disabilities who face multiple forms of marginalization.   The report highlights the following findings:   ...
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Guidelines on Promoting the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities
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Europe and Eurasia

Guidelines on Promoting the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Updated: March 2019
In 2019, the Oraganisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published the "Guidelines on Promoting the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities." The guidelines include instructions and checklists for how to include persons with disabilities in political parties and parliaments.   ...
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More Resources

Country List

Each country page offers excerpts from national constitutions, election laws, and relevant legislation affecting the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in political processes.

Voter Education & Assistive Devices

Best practice examples of assistive devices such as tactile ballot guides and of materials from voter education campaigns, including television advertisements and radio spots.

International Laws & Regulations

Excerpts from international and regional legislation, declarations, and commitments in which the rights of persons with disabilities to the political process are guaranteed.

Definitions

A dictionary that focuses on defining critical terminology related to political processes, elections, disability, assistive devices, and inclusive practices.

Lexicons

Lexicons are related phrases and concepts defined in sign language