"KND urges political parties to accommodate and provide inclusive spaces for representatives of the disabled community to stand as candidates in the 2024 Elections," KND Chairperson Dante Rigmalia stated here on Tuesday.
She said the commission encourages all parties to ensure people with disabilities can fully exercise their political rights and participate in national development.
Though the government had demonstrated its commitment to the KND by appointing four individuals with disabilities as its commissioners, Rigmalia affirmed that efforts must be intensified to ensure the disabled community can partake in more aspects of society.
"We want to push more to ensure persons with disabilities can participate and even hold offices in the government, so they can live optimally and independently and contribute (to society)," the commission head stated.
On the same occasion, Commissioner Rachmita Harahap expressed optimism that the General Elections Commission (KPU) and General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) would conceive an affirmative action policy for people with disabilities in elections.
"KND urges the Bawaslu and KPU to cooperate to ensure the representation of the disabled community by accommodating them to stand as legislative candidates," she remarked.
Moreover, Commissioner Fatimah Asri Mutmainnah also pushed for affirmative action for people with disabilities as legislative candidates, similar to the current affirmative action policy for women.
She said that ensuring individuals with disabilities can vote and stand as candidates in elections will be a factor that can diminish all social stigma on them.
At a press conference on Monday (May 8), the KND issued a statement that as Indonesian nationals, people with disabilities have the same rights as other residents, including political rights as conveyed by Article 28I (2) of the 1945 Constitution, Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, and Law No. 8 of 2018 on People with Disabilities.
The KND also affirmed that it will monitor and actively participate in all phases of the 2024 General Elections in line with its duties and functions.
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Translator: Devi Nindy Sari R, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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