Embrace Inclusion conducted a civic education forum to educate persons with disabilities on their rights to participate in voting exercise 0n 25th August, 2017 at the Muungano wa wanakijiji Hall Kiandutu where it engaged various stakeholders such as local administration, IEBC, URAIA and DPOs.
IEBC representative engaged PWDs enlightening them of their rights and the processes towards elections; including employment opportunities and preference treatment during voting for PWDs e.g. on queuing, voter assistance, and targeted voter education.
PWDs had an opportunity to engage the stakeholders with different questions towards IEBC where they were addressed to satisfaction.
URAIA educator facilitated on constitution article 54, and other general rights also bringing the convention on rights of persons with disabilities. They also taught on devolution, what it is for, and who has to benefit; this was well done and PWDs expressed understanding through engagements.
Administration representative; the chief showed commitment towards ensuring persons with disabilities access services his area of jurisdiction. In addition, he said he would lobby for implementation of privileges to the county government e.g. parking fee completely waived, access to restrooms completely waived.
It was an enlightening experience for the participants and persons with disabilities were happy to be engaged in such a forum and requested more forums of such to continue where the aim is to bringing policies implementers closer to the affected communities.
From this forum, three key findings were recorded and Embrace Inclusion is progressively acting through its programs designed to impact the shortcomings recorded with the following measures.
| Findings | Actions |
| There is low understanding of disability rights among many participants | More need for strengthened empowering and awareness activities to be carried out among Persons with Disabilities |
| Devolution is not clear to persons with disabilities | There is need for more enlightening opportunities for PWDS on issues concerning devolution. Embrace has been distributing devolution books and learning materials to solve the problem. |
| Actors and policy implementers are yet to fully learn and understand more about disability and how to address their needs | Need to carryout awareness programs to the actors and empower them on inclusion of persons with disabilities in their functions. |
Post a comment