The right of people with disabilities to take part in key decision-making, including elections, is critical if they are to influence policies that affect their lives.
Citizenship and political participation
In many countries, governance systems are not inclusive, meaning women and men with disabilities are often excluded from participating on an equal basis. In many cases, they are even denied the right to vote.
We support people with disabilities to participate in decision-making processes at all levels: globally, nationally and locally. We advocate for public policies to be more inclusive for people with disabilities, and work in partnership with disability organisations to ensure people with disabilities can make their voices heard.
Inclusive local development
Civic and political participation in development initiatives will better ensure that local services are disability inclusive and consider the needs of people with disabilities. Some of the local governments where we’re working have now agreed to systematically consult with organisations of people with disabilities.
Our work in Cameroon and Senegal has contributed to more than 204 women and men with disabilities either being elected as local councillors, parliamentarians, senators or official representatives in local working groups, or being included on political party lists in a position eligible for election for the first time.
Someone on crutches shakes a man's hand.
Barriers to political participation
Our research shows that people with disabilities are often excluded from African political life due to a lack of education and financial resources, stigma, and inaccessible buildings and legal frameworks.
Read the blogInclusive elections
We’re promoting inclusive elections in Cameroon and Senegal. We want to ensure people can enter polling booths and cast their votes independently, have political parties represent disability issues and encourage people with disabilities to participate as candidates. We also want voters to be provided with accessible information, such as party manifestos, so they can vote. In Cameroon, our work has significantly increased the number of people with disabilities registered to vote.
In Pakistan, we worked with the government to make Parliament House accessible for people with disabilities. Watch our video to find out more about our work
40,000
people with disabilities registered to vote in 2022
Citizenship
We support people with disabilities to obtain official documents such as birth certificates, ID cards, voter cards and disability cards, which are often a prerequisite to political participation. In Senegal and Cameroon, almost 3,500 people with disabilities have received documentation through our project. We are also exploring ways to ensure people with disabilities are more included in other forms of civil society, such as youth movements.
Watch the video below to see how we’re fighting for better political engagement of women with disabilities in Senegal.
Reports and reviews
Sightsavers’ social inclusion strategy (2021)
This strategy sets out how we will contribute to the inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities – globally, and in our programming countries – through our programmatic, research and influencing work. View the strategy
Disability-inclusive elections in Africa: a qualitative systematic review
A systematic review aiming to identify, appraise and combine available evidence to understand what practices have already taken place in African countries to support the political participation of people with disabilities, and what effect they have had at local and national levels. View the review [pdf]
Further resources
We’ve developed a range of resources including videos, guides and leaflets through our political participation work in Cameroon and Senegal. View the resources
We campaign for equality for people with disabilities
Join our campaignMore about our work
Nanny’s story
Nanny Powers founded Cameroon’s National Association of Persons with Short Stature, a disability organisation for people with restricted growth.
Michel’s story
“The message we want to give through this radio show is that people with disabilities in Cameroon are able to take part in the electoral process.”
Robert’s story
Robert Oyono is Cameroon’s first senator with a disability, and is calling for people with disabilities to be included in the political process.
