Anthology - Country reports with a difference

International comparison of accessibility Country reportswith a differenceInternational comparison of accessibility Note: The articles on European countries were written before the Euro-pean elections of 6–9 June 2024. At a Glance People with disabilities are an especially marginalisedgroup when it comes to political participation, not onlyin so-called developing countries. The recent yearshave illustrated that broad participation in politicalprocesses is a fundamental prerequisite for sustaineddevelopment. Not least of all, theAgenda2030, withits guiding principle of “no one left behind”, urgesus to pay special attention to this issue – also, andespecially, in the overseas offices of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. On this issue, what are the circumstances in thevarious countries where our foundation maintainsoffices? To what degree do people with disabilitiesenjoy the same opportunities as compared to peoplewithout disabilities? What challenges are they con-fronted with, which hurdles must be overcome, andhow can our foundation contribute to equal accessto political participation for people with disabilities? This publication provides research, compiled bysome of our overseas offices, on the current situa-tion of political participation for people with disabili-ties, in their respective countries. We hope that theirreports will increase awareness of the sadly oftenpersistent inequalities that remain and motivate allof us to pay greater heed to the issue of inclusion. Contents Dear Readers, The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is advocating for inclu-sion worldwide. We are dedicated to ensuring thatpeople with disabilities can participate in society inequal measure. This commitment is based on ourconviction that inclusion constitutes a fundamentalhuman right and that an inclusive society is benefi-cial for everyone. Especially in the field of education, people with disa-bilities are extremely marginalized and discriminatedagainst in many countries around the world – eventhough education in particular has been proven tobe a decisive factor for individual and sustainabledevelopment. Not only the 2030 Agenda with its guiding principleof “leaving no one behind” and the UN Conventionon the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but mostnotably our Christian view of humanity oblige us tofocus our attention on this topic in the work of theKonrad-Adenauer-Stiftung abroad. We take this mis-sion seriously: We want “civic education for all peo-ple!” For us, this includes on the one hand ensuring thatour events are accessible to all people, that ouroffices are barrier-free, and that special considera-tion is given to people with disabilities in the applica-tion process. On the other hand, in our work abroad,we join our local partners in addressing access toeducation for persons with disabilities in our coun-tries of assignment. This publication brings together selected countryreports from all five continents that deal with thetopic of “Political participation for people with disabil-ities.” They are based on research conducted by ouroffices abroad and provide insight into the currentstatus and developments in the respective countries. With our series entitled “Country reports with a dif-ference,” we focus on the issue of inclusion and pointout persistent inequalities. The reports illustrate boththe diversity of existing opportunities and potentialas well as the challenges and hurdles involved inimplementing inclusive measures. It is a small butnonetheless important step on the long and difficultroad to inclusion of persons with disabilities world-wide. Dr. Gerhard Wahlers Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Division European andInternational Cooperation Germany“YES” to more Participation – but also in Politics? The Global Disability Summit (also known as “GDS25”) will takeplace in Germany at the beginning of April 2025. The aim of thesummit is to drive forward the global implementation of theUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabili-ties (or “UN CRPD” for short). In an interdimensional approach. Global dimension. Persons with disabilities constitute one of the mostmarginalized and disadvantaged groups worldwide.Some 1.3 billion people, or around one sixth of theworld’s population, live with one or multiple disabilities. In Germany, over an eighth of eligible votershave a disability – and the trend is rising due to demo–graphic change and the increasing prevalence ofmental illness. If, in light of oftentimes considerableassistance needs, one includes family members aswell, about half of all eligible voters – and thereforea group with immense voter potential – are affectedby disability. In order to achieve the goal of inclusionin society, education, in studies and work, and finallyalso in politics, the United Nations (UN) created theConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilitiesin 2008, which took effect in Germany in 2009. Themost important innovation: “Disability” is understo