As part of the ongoing national initiative “Your Voice is Your Right”, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) held an educational seminar today in Sohag Governorate, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of political participation among persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the upcoming 2025 Senate elections.
This event, hosted at the Sohag Governorate headquarters, marks a key milestone in empowering PWDs to exercise their constitutional right to vote and participate actively in Egypt’s democratic process. The seminar aligns with broader state efforts to promote inclusion, accessibility, and equal political representation.
Strategic Collaboration for Empowerment
The seminar was organized in cooperation with Sohag Governorate and its Disability Affairs Unit, and witnessed the attendance of senior officials, civil society representatives, and disability advocates.
The session also featured participation from various government ministries — including Social Solidarity, Education, and Culture — alongside dozens of persons with disabilities and their families, as well as representatives from NGOs and organizations working in the field of disability.
Accessibility at the Heart of Electoral Planning
The seminar outlined critical legal frameworks supporting PWDs’ political rights, including:
- Egypt’s 2014 Constitution
- Law No. 10/2018 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- The National Human Rights Strategy
A special focus was placed on election accessibility efforts spearheaded by the NCPD in collaboration with the National Election Authority (NEA). These include:
- Braille and sign language guides to aid visually and hearing-impaired voters
- Simplified voting instructions in accessible formats
- Ground-floor polling stations for ease of access
- Sign language interpreters for awareness sessions
- Election staff trained to assist voters with disabilities
These initiatives are intended to ensure full inclusion and independence for voters with various disabilities throughout the electoral process.
Political Participation as a Constitutional Right
In her keynote address, Dr. Iman Karim, General Supervisor of the NCPD, emphasized that the political participation of persons with disabilities is a constitutional guarantee.
Dr. Karim expressed gratitude to Governor Abdel Fattah Serag for hosting both the seminar and the launch of the third phase of the national initiative “My Family, My Strength”, highlighting the importance of sustained collaboration between the council and the governorate in advancing disability rights and civic engagement.
She added that efforts are ongoing to train election observers from the disability community, ensure safe and accessible transportation to polling centers, and translate electoral materials into accessible formats that cater to all disability types.
Local & Civil Society Contributions
Representing Sohag’s governorate, Dr. Mohamed Helmy reiterated the local government’s dedication to the disability community, noting the establishment of a citizen service office specifically for persons with disabilities and continuous improvements in communication and support services across the governorate.
Meanwhile, Shaimaa Nabil from the Evangelical Organization, emphasized the critical role of civil society in enabling an inclusive electoral process. She called for continued partnerships between NGOs and government bodies to ensure that every Egyptian, regardless of ability, can make their voice heard.
Building on Past Success
The NCPD’s efforts are part of a broader national movement toward inclusive democratic participation. During the 2024 Presidential Elections, the Council — in cooperation with the NEA — introduced unprecedented measures such as:
- Braille ballots for the first time in Egyptian history
- Ground-floor polling stations for mobility-challenged voters
- Deployment of trained election monitors with disabilities to ensure transparency and address barriers in real time
These pioneering steps laid the groundwork for a more equitable electoral environment — one that recognizes and removes obstacles to full participation.
