Political Participation for Everyone and Everywhere

The Multi-Regional Global Disability Pre-Summit 2024, held in Amman, Jordan, on the 13-14th November 2024, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mired Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), marked a pivotal milestone in the lead-up to the Global Disability Summit (GDS) slated for next spring in Berlin. Organised in collaboration with the HCD and the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the event convened key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, and organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) from across diverse regions. The summit aimed to foster international collaboration, validate themes essential to the rights of persons with disabilities, amplify their voices, and strengthen commitments to inclusive practices.

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) participated in the summit as a partner of the HCD, contributing to the discussions and supporting efforts to advance the political rights and participation of persons with disabilities. Its involvement underscored the ongoing collaboration of the KAS Jordan Office with the HCD in areas such as capacity building and policy advocacy, reflecting a mutual dedication to promoting inclusive societies and enabling individuals with disabilities to actively engage in civic and political life. In particular, KAS and HCD had co-organized a workshop series on politics in the run-up to the 2024 parliamentary elections in Jordan.

The summit in Amman addressed a wide array of critical topics, emphasising priorities central to advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities on a global scale. This included education, employment, and inclusive development, with a particular focus on ensuring accessibility and equity in these areas. Panels explored innovative strategies for improving access to education for children with disabilities, creating inclusive workplaces, and designing urban environments that cater to diverse needs. Other sessions highlighted the importance of addressing intersectional challenges, such as the compounded barriers faced by women and children with disabilities, as well as the necessity of incorporating disability-inclusive approaches into humanitarian responses and disaster risk reduction. These discussions collectively aimed to identify actionable solutions and mobilise commitments that will shape the agenda for the upcoming Global Disability Summit in Berlin.

One of the key highlights of the summit was its focus on political participation for persons with disabilities. One side-panel addressed the systemic barriers that often prevent meaningful engagement in political processes, such as inaccessible voting systems and underrepresentation in leadership roles. The session emphasised the need for robust policies and accessible infrastructure. Kathrin Heinrichs, a distinguished guest speaker from Germany, contributed valuable insights during this panel. A member of the CDU and chairwoman of the Junge Union Wesel, Kathrin drew upon her extensive experience to highlight practical strategies for inclusion, including within political parties. She provided an inspiring account of Germany’s progress, including the establishment of disability advisory councils, the lifting of restrictions on voting rights for certain groups with disabilities in 2019, and the implementation of barrier-free polling stations.

Kathrin also underscored the role of self-help networks, political education workshops and inclusive youth organisations in empowering young people with disabilities to actively shape policies that impact their lives. Kathrin’s intervention demonstrated how grassroots initiatives can drive systemic change and ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are not only heard but actively incorporated into decision-making processes. Her emphasis on the need for collaboration between governments, civil society, and organisations of persons with disabilities resonated strongly with the summit’s overarching objectives.

The Amman pre-summit not only set the stage for the Berlin summit but also marked a significant milestone in advancing global dialogue on disability inclusion. It underscored the value of German-Jordanian partnerships, such as that between KAS and HCD, the importance of fostering political engagement, and the necessity of sustained advocacy to promote full an equitable participation for everybody, everywhere.