On the 30 July 2013, the General Election Network for Disability Access (AGENDA) held a “Results Readout: Insights From Regional Research on the Accessibility of Elections for Persons With Disabilities” at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski in Jakarta. Supported by USAID, over the past two years AGENDA has built the first regional network of 13 disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) that conduct election monitoring and research activities to advance the political rights of people with disabilities. The event reflected and celebrated the pioneering work on political participation for persons with disabilities in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
The over 150 participants comprised of civil society and disabled people’s organizations, NGOs, embassies, media and representatives of the Indonesian government and USAID. The project was proud to welcome Rafendi Djamin, Indonesia’s Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR), Suvat Chirapant, Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, Husni Kamil Manik, Chairman of KPU, KPU Commissioner Hadar Gumay and BAWASLU Commissioner, Daniel Zuchron that have all strongly supported AGENDA over the past two years. The event was opened by PPCI President, Gufroni Sakaril, accompanied by PPUA President Ms. Ariani Soekanwo and Mr. Afifuddin, National Coordinator of JPPR.
Presentations focused on program highlights of the past two years, election monitoring activities and compiled research from five countries across Southeast Asia on the challenges encountered by persons with disabilities in political participation. Findings are based on election access observations; primary and secondary in-country research; and regional meetings and workshops. AGENDA’s regional report on “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Elections” is the culmination of this research and is expected to be an important resource for stakeholders working to improve the political and electoral process for persons with disabilities across the region.