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, as well as recommendations to improve access and inclusion for all. Inclusion and Meaningful Political Participation:
- Provides an overview of international frameworks protecting the political rights of women; people with disabilities; young people; older people; displaced people; migrant workers; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people; Indigenous populations; and ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities during the pandemic.
- Describes the main barriers to these groups’ electoral and political engagement during the pandemic.
- Highlights good practices and recommendations for election management bodies, civil society, legislators, electoral justice actors, local authorities, educational institutions, security personnel and the international community on how to mitigate these barriers.
- Identifies opportunities for systemic change toward more inclusive political processes rather than restoring old practices after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as opportunities to “build back better,” create more resilience and increase trust in democracies.
To read the full paper, visit IFES' website here.
