Working Group Meeting at the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Ensure Electoral Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Round Table “Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Political and Public Life of Society”

On 13 November 2020, a meeting of the Working Group at the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the electoral rights of persons with disabilities and a round table themed “Persons with Disabilities in Political and Public Life of Society” were held.

The event was attended by: “Shyrak” Association of Women with Disabilities, Ombudsman for Human Rights in Kazakhstan, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Aukenov Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, OSCE Program Office in Nur-Sultan, deputies of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of the Center of Efficiency Assessment, public associations of people with disabilities, and representatives of territorial election commissions in the video-conferencing mode.

The purpose of the event was to inform the general public about the key principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in terms of political and public participation of persons with disabilities, about the work carried out by the CEC to ensure the electoral rights of persons with disabilities, OSCE standards in the field of political participation of persons with disabilities, the results of a baseline study on inclusiveness and accessibility of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as joint work in this direction of the state, non-governmental and international organizations.

Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

He noted that one of the most important tasks of the CEC is the implementation of all necessary conditions to ensure electoral rights of citizens with disabilities. Therefore, the CEC is carrying out systematic work in this direction.

So, in 2018, the Constitutional Act of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan” for the first-time enshrined norms to ensure the electoral rights of citizens with disabilities.

Another innovation has been introduced in the current election campaign – the provision of sign language interpretation for online broadcasts of all sessions of the Central Election Commission. This measure will help to raise awareness among citizens with disabilities.

Yerlan Dauylbayev, a member of the Central Election Commission, made a report on “Ensuring access for persons with disabilities to electoral processes at all levels”.

Y. Dauylbayev informed that the CEC within the work being done to ensure the electoral rights of citizens with disabilities:

- held an inventory of all precinct election commissions for accessibility for citizens with disabilities;

- updated the Interactive Accessibility Map “Accessible Environment”;

- adopted the resolution of the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On issues of ensuring the electoral rights of citizens with disabilities during the regular elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for January 10, 2021”. Local executive bodies were given appropriate instructions on the need to take measures to ensure conditions at polling stations for citizens with disabilities.

- updated the composition of the Working Group at the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan on ensuring the electoral rights of citizens with disabilities.

- concluded memoranda of cooperation with public associations of disabled people;

- in pursuance of the agreement between the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Labor and Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a selector meeting with the departments of labor and departments of employment and social protection of the population of the regions on the need to provide conditions for citizens with disabilities;

- the ministry sent an order to akims of regions, cities of republican significance and the capital on the need to work to ensure accessibility of polling stations to citizens with disabilities;

- the CEC updated the memo for voters with disabilities on elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan. This leaflet will be sent to the members of the Working Group and public associations of disabled people.

Also, during the event, the participants of the round table gave speeches:

• Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Markus Schaefer made a report on “Participation of persons with disabilities in public and political life of society in accordance with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.

• Chairperson of the territorial commission of Almaty Zhanna Assanova spoke “On measures to organize and ensure accessibility of polling stations in Almaty for citizens with disabilities”.

• International experts Amu Urhonen, Clark Patrick told about “OSCE Standards in the Field of Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities”.

• Expert-analyst of the Project Office for Anti-Corruption “Adal bilim”, Director of the “Asian Research Center for International and Comparative Law” Lilia Ispenbetova spoke about “The results of the basic research on accessibility and inclusiveness of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.

• Head of the specialized organization “Ramp OK” Shakhan Zhuldasbayev reported on “My experience of participating in the election campaign in Maslikhat”.

Following the work of the meeting of the Working Group at the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan on ensuring electoral rights of persons with disabilities and the Round Table, a resolution was adopted to ensure participation of persons with disabilities in the political and public life of society.