People with disabilities have challenged the National Electoral Commission to remove some of the barriers they face during electoral processes, saying that much as a lot has been done to empower them, they still faced some hurdles.

Speaking through the National Union for Organisations of People with Disabilities of Rwanda (NUDOR) the people with disabilities said that for instance, they are denied the right to work as electoral volunteers, while in some instances, they face limitations to stand as candidates in general elections.

The complaints were raised during a meeting organised by NUDOR, bringing together several partner organisations to share ideas on the participation of people with disabilities in elections.

"People with disabilities have the right to act as volunteers for the electoral commission, they also need to be elected. There also appears to be accessibility problems at some of the polling centres which limits people with disabilities in electoral centres like paths and voting papers,” said the NUDOR executive secretary, Jean Damascene Nsengiyumva.

Aloys Ntirutwa, a student in UR College of Education representing National Organization of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry in Rwanda (NOUSPR Ubumuntu), said that it is unfair that people with mental disabilities are not considered in electoral processes.

"We need to have a right to participate in elections, by either contesting or voting. We need the removal of law no 003/2011 of 12/02/2011 which bars people with disabilities confirmed by a government medical doctor not to be elected or to vote, even within the in national council for people with disabilities. This is discrimination against us,” Ntirutwa said.

Augustin Munyangeyo, the president of Rwanda National Union of the Deaf, called for constant dialogue with the government, to ensure their concerns are always shared and follow ups made. He said the electoral commission should also consider reaching out to them during the sensitisation campaigns ahead of elections and to also consider them when they are making material pertaining to sensitisation on electoral processes.

"NEC should be mindful of our communication means; bring interpreters for campaign period even during elections,” he said.

Olive Kansanga, Election Management Specialist from NEC, who also attended the meeting, said that these complaints are understandable and the commission would work closely with their union and other stakeholders to address their concerns.

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