Islamabad: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan organized a national consultation titled “Making Elections Accessible and Meaningful for People with Disabilities in Pakistan,” advocating for enhanced electoral participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
According to United Nations Development Programme, the event brought together PWD representatives, parliamentarians, government officials, and various stakeholders from national human rights institutions and civil society organizations. It focused on addressing the barriers that PWDs face in voting and urged both provincial and federal governments to fully implement national and international legal obligations concerning electoral accessibility.
The consultation built on insights from four provincial Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) that explored accessibility issues in public buildings, particularly those used as polling stations. Significant challenges and action points were highlighted by representatives from the National Commission of Human Rights, Balochistan Commission on the Status of Women, and UNDP’s Strengthening Electoral and Legislative Processes project team.
Participants agreed on the urgency of implementing the Accessibility Code of Pakistan 2006 in all public infrastructure to ensure that PWDs can participate fully in electoral processes. Although Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan have enacted disability laws, the lack of such legislation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and poor implementation elsewhere were noted as major obstacles.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to present these action points at the upcoming “National Implementation Framework on Enhancing Accessibility for PWDs in Pakistan” event. This gathering aims to foster a collaborative effort among various governmental and civil sectors to ensure no voter is left behind due to accessibility issues.