From 28 – 30 March, a series of three roundtable discussions were held in Skopje, Kumanovo and Gostivar on the topic of the participation of persons with disabilities in electoral processes. These events were envisaged to engage stakeholders in an exploration of possibilities and options for achieving a more equitable representation of persons with disabilities in electoral processes, with the aim of contributing not only towards better legislative and policy solutions for persons with disabilities, but also towards a better society for all.
With these objectives in mind, the roundtable events featured elaborations by the President and Vice President of the State Election Commission, Aleksandar Dashtevski and Ditmire Shehu, regarding recent and ongoing endeavours undertaken by the SEC. Drawing from insights in the ethics and integrity of the election process as related to persons with disabilities, Margarita Caca Nikolovska, President of the Institute for Human Rights, reflected on recommendations for ensuring a democratic electoral process that meets these criteria. At the same time, Blagica Dimitrovska, President of the Association for the Promotion and Development of an Inclusive Society Inkluziva, drew attention to the past and present role of the civil society sector in achieving real results in furthering the political and electoral prospects for persons with disabilities.
The events proved a fertile ground for productive discussion and exchange of insights with the participants, among whom were Members of the National Assembly and the Interparty Parliamentary Group for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Information Society and Administration, the Ombudsman, the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination, members of Kumanovo’s and Gostivar’s Municipal Councils, political party representatives and civil society organisations, including organisations of persons with disabilities.
Visit our Gallery for more of what our lenses documented from these events.
The roundtable discussions constitute part of the project Support to Electoral Reforms in North Macedonia of the Government of Switzerland, implemented by IFES.
