The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) have jointly organised a Workshop to Draft and Advance Model Election Law Provisions to Ensure Electoral Participation of People with Disabilities.

From 21 to 23 September 2003, a group of 15 people representing international organisations, electoral commissions, parliaments and organisations for people with disabilities met at the IPU Headquarters, the House of Parliaments, to draft the Recommended Electoral Law Provisions. These draft Provisions will be presented for adoption at a Global Conference which will take place in 2004 and subsequently addressed to parliaments, political parties, national election authorities and international organisations dealing with elections for them to take the necessary action.

The participants stressed the need to include provisions in both national constitutions and electoral legislation that guarantee all the electoral rights of persons with disabilities without restriction. The right to vote and stand for elections are both guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and should apply to every citizen, without distinction on the basis of intellectual, physical, psychiatric, sensory or other disability. The participants highlighted the fact that providing electoral access to the disabled is an obligation of the State under international law from which it can not claim any derogation.

---

Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, the IPU, the oldest multilateral organisation, currently has 145 affiliated national parliaments and five regional assemblies as associate members. The organisation of the world's parliaments also has an office as Permanent Observer with the United Nations in New York.
Other press releases	More information

---

Contact for additional information or interviews:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Tel. +4122 919 41 16/27 Fax: +4122 919 41 60, 919 41 97 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org