How the new democracy tool of the Council of Europe can support representation of people with intellectual disabilities.
- It is important that people with intellectual disabilities are represented and visible in all aspects of society and politics. So they can advocate for their rights, views and expectations.
- But, many people with intellectual disabilities are left out of democracy in Europe.
- People with intellectual disabilities must be treated as equal citizens with equal voting rights and access to elections.
The Council of Europe is an international organisation with 46 member states. Its job is to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across Europe. Their work is also to help countries check how well they respect democracy and where they need to improve.
What are the Parameters?
In 2023, the Council of Europe agreed on the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy. These principles describe what strong and fair democracies should look like.
Now, the Council of Europe is developing the Parameters. The Parameters are practical rules helping countries to check how well they respect democracy and where they need to improve.
As part of this work, the Council of Europe organised a public consultation and asked for feedback.
Inclusion Europe took part in this consultation. We spoke about the reality of people with intellectual disabilities in regards to political participation, and we shared our demands and recommendations.
Democracy?:
- In 14 countries people can be denied the right to vote because their legal capacity was removed.
- In 20 countries there is no person with an intellectual disability part of the council of the national organisation.
- In 13 countries our member organisations do not receive government funding for their advocacy work.
“Nearly 50,000 people under guardianship couldn’t vote in Hungary. We need the right to vote so that decision-makers do not make decisions about us without us having a say.
“Some don’t see the problem, and yet: No other citizen must pass an IQ test to vote. Why should people with intellectual disabilities have to do so?
“Does it mean that people with intellectual disabilities are second-class citizens?”
- László Bercse, Vice-President of Inclusion Europe
What needs to be done
We ask the Council of Europe to make the democracy Parameters stronger by clearly requiring:
- The right to vote and stand for election for all people with intellectual disabilities, regardless of their legal capacity status.
- Accessible elections in practice. For example easy-to-read information, supported decision-making, and polling procedures designed for people with intellectual disabilities.
- Civil participation processes to be inclusive and accessible. This includes consultations, deliberative forums and civil dialogue.
- Recognition and sustainable support for self-advocacy groups as essential civil society actors.
- Protections against exclusion, political pressure, financial cuts and disinformation.
Why this matters
With these measures added, the new Parameters will be a stronger tool to measure the quality of democracy.
Democracy is only complete if everyone can fully vote and participate – including people with intellectual disabilities.
Read also:
- Profiles of people with intellectual disabilities elected to office
- Europe for Us easy-to-read amagazine about the right to vote
By Ebba Olsson, who participates in the Ulla Topi traineeship in inclusive policy-making at Inclusion Europe.