Legislative, Municipal Elections: What Place For Persons With Disabilities!

Cameroon, according to demographics, has an estimated three million persons living with disabilities, representing 15 per cent of the total population, in addition to various vulnerable groups of persons in different communities. Their representation in political and socials affairs of the country has been a topic of debate for several years, with the government putting in place measures to encourage their participation. Civil society organisations and other societal groupings carryout advocacy in their favour. With the legislative and municipal elections in view for this year, political parties, Elections Cameroon and persons with disabilities are themselves preparing ahead of this important political engagement. The pertinent question for some time now has been, what place is being accorded this category of persons, both on the basis of merit and other social considerations. While these vulnerable people keep clamoring for more representation in the political landscape, noting that they are not only good for march past events, humanitarian actions or other picturetaking ceremonies, they say they have mental capacities and other skills which can be exploited for national growth. From a lawful perspective, there is legal framework that protects persons with disabilities. Cameroon is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with the April 13, 2010 law and the July 26, 2018 decree which offer protection to this category of people by establishing their rights to education, vocational training, health care, and specialised employment, including up to five years of age exemption for public service recruitment. The Electoral Code also considers persons with disabilities by allowing for assistance during the voting process under specified conditions. Information on the electoral process is also made accessible to the visually impaired and those with hearing impediment. The objective of the elections management body is to facilitate access of vulnerable groups to polls with no discrimination to persons irrespective of their physical state, those promoting the values of democracy. Within political parties, persons with disabilities are being put forth for elective positions and hold other decision-making positions within the party. A tour of most legalized political parties in the country indicate that they have internal texts that give these people the pride of place though they complain about the lukewarm engagement of this people. For example, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPD...