Partner Profile: Association Anika

In support of NDI’s commitment to increasing the inclusion of marginalized populations in political processes, we’re highlighting the essential work of partners who are at the forefront fighting for greater levels of equality, shifting norms and perceptions, and reducing barriers to political participation for persons with disabilities.

Partner Profile: The Association of Students with Disabilities

In support of NDI’s commitment to increasing the inclusion of marginalized populations in political processes, we’re highlighting the essential work of partners who are at the forefront fighting for greater levels of equality, shifting norms and perceptions, and reducing barriers to political participation for persons with disabilities.

First invoked by the South African disability rights movement in the 1990s, “Nothing About Us Without Us” became the clarion call of activists organizing to overcome systemic oppression and empower persons with disabilities to take control over decisions affecting their lives. Since then, the concept has anchored the work of the global disability rights movement and its demand for the full and equal inclusion of persons with disabilities.

In support of NDI’s commitment to increasing the inclusion of marginalized populations in political processes, we’re highlighting the essential work of partners who are at the forefront fighting for greater levels of equality, shifting norms and perceptions, and reducing barriers to political participation for persons with disabilities. 

Political parties play an important role in aggregating and representing public interests, shaping political agendas and developing government policies and programs. Parties are also a vehicle for contesting power and earning the right to govern through peaceful elections. To become more competitive, parties can make room for diverse voices within their organizations and practice more inclusive policy-making and decision-making. These actions will help build and maintain a broader base of constituent support and earn citizen trust.  

Historically, persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Jordan have rarely participated in elections either as candidates or voters due to prevailing cultural stigmatization against PWDs, the absence of accessible polling stations and a lack of awareness on their rights to participate in the electoral process or how to vote. Moreover, disabled persons organizations (DPOs) do not have the capacity to advocate for PWD rights or raise awareness on a large scale. An added challenge is the lack of data about the number of PWDs in Jordan and the types of disabilities in each electoral district. 

Since 2019, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) has partnered with the “Access” (Wusool in Arabic) campaign, a coalition of disabled persons organizations (DPOs) across Libya focused on building support for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The campaign not only works on infrastructure improvements, but also targeted outreach and administrative support at higher education institutions as PWDs pursue their degrees. 

Persons with disabilities face significant challenges in realizing their full social, political, and economic inclusion in The Gambia. Discrimination, lack of inclusive education, no representation in government, and the absence of accessible infrastructure, among other factors, create barriers to persons with disabilities fully exercising their fundamental human rights. While a Disability Rights Bill to assist persons with disabilities exists, it has languished in the legislature for over a decade.