Strengthening political participation of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Serbia, project

Project Summary

This project will seek to strengthen the political participation of persons with disabilities (PWD) in Serbia by advancing their influence on legislative framework and the electoral process in order to enable the improvement of their human rights and social inclusion. 

Specific Objectives:

• To sensitize Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding disability rights, re-establish the Parliamentary Disability Caucus Group, explore possibilities for its institutionalization and improve participation and influence of PWD on revision and creation of new legislation from the disability prospective, both at the Parliament and Government level.
• To advance accessibility of the electoral process for PWD by joining ongoing electoral reform efforts and establishing collaboration with  civil society, political parties and the Republic Election Commission on developing measures for ensuring greater accessibility of elections voter outreach campaigns for PWD
• To promote the rights and political participation of PWD at the local level by facilitating cooperation between Disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) and local government representatives in five underdeveloped  municipalities across Serbia.

 Expected Results

• Established cooperation between DPOs and Members of Parliament on the development and improvement of Disability Policy and creation of new legislation that includes PWD human rights provision. At least 10 legislative initiatives are developed and submitted, including those on electoral reform.
• Raised awareness of MPs on PWD human rights provision and re-establishment of the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability Rights that would include up to 8% of MPs, from both the ruling and the opposition parties.
• Measures for ensuring greater accessibility of PWD to election material and voting stations are created, data collection identified through joint efforts of relevant stakeholders including CSOs and Republic Election Commission. At least 3 major political parties develop Electoral Campaign Accessibility Action Plans.
• Members of Disability Caucus group and Republic Electoral Commission are informed and capacitated to advance political participation of persons with disabilities through gaining an insight in good practice examples in this field.
• Provided insight for MPs and members of REC and participating DPOs in functioning of Disability Caucus group abroad during the study visit, helped to use best practice example in work of Disability Caucus group and Election Commission for the development and improvement of Disability Policy and PWD human rights provision.
• Advocacy and lobbying capacities of up to 20 DPO representatives in 5 communities are strengthened
• Communication between DPOs and local governments of Bor and Negotin  established and Memorandums of Cooperation developed and signed.
• A draft Action Plan for implementn of the MoC  developed in Novi Pazar, Kladovo and Prijepolje