Main Event: Participation and representation in public life and decision making  

Participation is the cornerstone of democracy, embodying the vital tenets of empowerment, accountability, and social inclusion. When persons with disabilities engage meaningfully in political and public life, the outcome is transformative, allowing their views and their expertise to be recognized, and their rights enforced. Despite the solid grounding provided by the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD)—particularly Articles 4(3), 29, and 33—persistent gaps in political participation reflect the hurdles that remain, including the lack of accessibility and reasonable accommodation. In the case of marginalized groups within the disability community, the lack of recognition of their legal capacity poses further challenges to their right to vote or run for office. 
In response to these challenges, a multifaceted approach is necessary. It is important to recognize the political engagement does not happen in isolation. It is an integral part of the larger civic and social engagement of persons with disabilities, Systemic barriers that keep persons with disabilities from social interactions, including the lack of information, accessibility, acceptance, etc., also keep them away from political life. The first step is to drive high-level advocacy and reform by eliminating discriminatory legal frameworks and introducing inclusive electoral policies that guarantee the equal political rights of persons with disabilities. Accessibility including access to information must be ensured for persons with disabilities to be able to make informed choices. Equally important is the urgent need to secure stable and meaningful funding for Organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) so that they can not only advance the right to participate for all persons with disabilities but are also equipped to fulfil the role of being true representatives of persons with disabilities in decision and policy making.