Walk the Talk with PWDs

This project seeks to align key stakeholder roles and practices in the election process with Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) Article 29 and domestic strategic and legislative framework. Main issues for PWDs in the election process are: lack of accessible information on electoral issues/programs of political parties; physical accessibility of polling stations; voting in residential institutions, securing the secrecy of vote for visually impaired people; unclear procedures for voting from home; lack of data on PWD turnout in elections; voting rights for people with intellectual disability.

The goal of the Walk the Talk with PWDs project is to contribute to election process accessibility for PWDs in Serbia through improvements in polling station accessibility, use of accessible voting aids for PWDs, greater penetration of accessible voting systems, PWD support services in accessing election process, PWD mobilization to take part in election process and disability inclusive election monitoring system development. The project proposes a three prong approach: 1) establish a functional PWD Participation in Election Community Practice Group (PWDPECPG) as the lead influencer of policies and practices regarding accessible election process in Serbia at all levels; 2) contribute to changes in election rules that hinder PWD participation, through public advocacy, awareness raising and campaigning efforts; and 3) build a momentum within the disability movement for greater participation in elections, including recruitment of 15 youth/women with disabilities for training (two 2-days) on politics and policies.