How to Restore the Democratic Traditions of India
Flagging off the 8th National Voters Day Celebrations scheduled to be held today, Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted Wednesday a one-day International Conference on the subject ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’ in New Delhi.
Delegates at the Conference included chairpersons, commissioners, and senior officials of five Election Management Bodies (EMBs): Australia, Bhutan, Guinea, Moldova, Zambia and heads of two international organisations: International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES) and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
In his Inaugural Address, Chief Election Commissioner of India O.P. Rawat, reiterated ECI’s resolve to uphold the sanctity of free, fair and peaceful elections in keeping with the democratic traditions of India.
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He stated that ECI is committed to the objective that the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) have the right to full electoral participation, on the basis of equality and shall not be discriminated against on any ground.
The Conference has been organized under the VoICE.NET platform, a global knowledge network which has membership from more than 25 Election Management Bodies and international organisations.
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It has been organised with the purpose of sharing the experience of different EMBs, international institutions and experts with regard to analysis of barriers, policy interventions, strategies, programmes, good practices, and technological innovation for inclusion of PwD’s in electoral processes.
The quarterly magazine issued under the VoICE.NET – ‘VoICE International’ had its third issue dedicated to the cause of the PwD’s. The Issue carries rich experience for knowledge sharing on PwD’s inclusion across the world of democracies.
The international delegates will also be attending the National Voters Day Celebrations in New Delhi today besides visiting the upcoming campus of the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) at Dwarka, New Delhi today 25th January 2018.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
