Disability Inclusion in the Voter Registration Processes
Cambodia’s National Election Committee (NEC) is in the process of drafting new national voter registration procedures. IFES’ General Election Network for Disability Access (AGENDA) program has worked with the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO) to provide the NEC with evidence-based recommendations on how to address the rights of persons with disabilities in the country’s voter registration process. On August 10, 2015, in Phnom Penh, CDPO presented a report of its research findings and recommendations, titled “Disability Inclusion in the Voter Registration Process,” directly to the NEC. The workshop was attended by 50 representatives from the NEC, disabled people’s organizations, civil society organizations, academia, political parties and NGOs working on disability issues. Through the report and the workshop, CDPO is advocating for a more inclusive voter registration process for which the NEC is currently drafting new procedures. The workshop was reported on by Radio Free Asia.
About AGENDA
Established in 2011, AGENDA was formed as a forum to improve access to political and electoral opportunities for persons with disabilities in Southeast Asia through increased public awareness and advocacy for change. AGENDA is a creative partnership between IFES, disabled persons organizations (DPOs), and election-focused civil society organizations (CSOs). AGENDA is currently funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the United States Agency for International Development during the first phase of the project. The AGENDA network's principal objectives have been to promote election access in Southeast Asia and ensure that access to disability-inclusive political processes is on the human rights agenda of regional bodies.
