One out of every seven people in the world has a disability, yet citizens with disabilities remain under-represented in political and public life. When people with disabilities are engaged in elections and public life, politicians and governments are incentivized to make tangible policy changes. With ongoing global issues such as the COVID-19 crisis and climate change disproportionately impacting people with disabilities, having a voice in governance is crucial.  

The Government of Australia and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) are proud to helm the 2023 Summit for Democracy Disability Rights Cohort.  Join us for this virtual event that will provide more details on the Summit for Democracy, what the Disability Rights Cohort proposes to achieve, and how governments and civil society organizations can engage going forward. Participants will come away from this session with:

• An overview of the Summit for Democracy process
• Overview of the Summit for Democracy’s Disability Cohort draft concept
• Understanding of Summit for Democracy’s Disability Cohort’s operating principles
• Understanding of Inclusive Democracy Year of Action how partners can engage at the national and international levels, including ideas for commitments to strengthen inclusive democracy and governance
• Details on how to join the Disability Rights Cohort

The Summit for Democracy Disability Rights Cohort Concept Note can be found here. 

SPEAKERS

• Sara Minkara, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, U.S. State Department
• Andrea Cole, Director, Disability and Social Inclusion, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Virginia Atkinson, Senior Global Inclusion Advisor, International Foundation for Electoral Systems

English captioning and Auslan sign language interpretation will be provided. Please RSVP with any reasonable accommodation requests.