Self-advocates from different parts of Slovakia came together in Bratislava this January to learn and to discuss how to improve political participation of people with intellectual disabilities.
“Change will only happen if we are involved. Organisations can help us press for changes to happen,” said Ana Martínez, a self-advocate from Spain, as she shared her work and described how self-advocates organise in the country.
“We know what we want. We need to tell it to the ones who make the laws!,” she added.
People denied right to take part in politics
“In Slovakia, we still have people that are denied their right to take part in politics, namely the voting process. This needs to change,” said Zuzana Stavrovská, The Commissioner for People With Disabilities in Slovakia.
Slovakian self-advocates also met with the European Platform of Self-Advocates (EPSA) Steering Group to talk about discrimination against women, inequality in salary conditions between men and women, involuntary sterilization of women with intellectual disabilities, and other topics related to social inclusion and participation.
There were 41 participants at the meeting:
- 23 persons with disabilities;
- 4 family members;
- 3 representatives from local authorities;
- 11 staff of support services.
The meeting was organized in collaboration with ZPMPvSK, member of Inclusion Europe. The meeting is part of our work to support self-advocates in different countries, and to improve political participation of people with intellectual disabilities. The meeting was part of a project called UNITY. The project is funded by the European Union. This is the second round of the self-advocates’ meetings, the first was in Greece and the next one will be in Belgium. Our project partners are doing similar work in Austria and Slovenia.
Supporting self-advocacy
ZPMVSR is working towards a stronger self-advocacy movement, and this was the opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of political participation for people with intellectual disabilities and create opportunities for them to share their views directly with authorities. This involves working with various individuals and organisations to promote better political engagement.
“I was very proud that participating in all elections is one of my rights and responsibilities. I too can decide on the candidates.” – Juraj Šuster
- Participants learn that in 2017, Slovakia abolished restrictions that previously prevented people under guardianship from voting. This change made sure that all citizens, regardless of their legal capacity status, can exercise their right to vote. Participants learn about Mar Galcerán, a politician with Down syndrome, elected to the regional parliament in Valencia.
“I am not able to understand what politicians say. I cannot decide.”
Although the law says that every citizen can vote, this is not how it works in practice for a lot of people.
- Voting rights can still be restricted through a specific court decision, based on assessing the individual ability to understand the significance, purpose, and effects of elections. People without disabilities are not asked to prove this. This is discrimination.
- Lack of easy-to-read material on rights, the elections and the political programmes of political parties.
- The self-advocacy movement is weak, with no active self-advocacy groups with an institutional role at local or national level.
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