Section 6: Dominican Republic Case Study Key Stakeholders: • Disabled persons’ organizations • Election management bodies • IFES • National election monitoring groups • Political parties and candidates • National Council on Persons with Disabilities Overview According to the WHO, more than 1.5 million Dominicans have a disability. These citizens are rarely included in elections and political processes. Alongside its lead DPO partner, La Red Iberoamericana de Entidades de Personas con Discapacidad Física (La Red), IFES worked to increase awareness of the political rights of Dominicans with disabilities. The program, which targeted a range of stakeholders (including the disability community, the EMB, political parties and candidates), sought to address this issue and highlight commitments made by the Dominican Republic when it ratified the CRPD in 2009. IFES and La Red worked on the two-year long project prior to and after the May 2012 presidential election to encourage voting and deeper engagement in political life by citizens with disabilities. This case study demonstrates the positive impact of collaboration between civil society, government and political parties. “ I am very convinced that we will see people with disabilities participating as candidates, as well as many more disabled voters, since this is the political destiny of our country. I think the job we are doing right now will set the stage for all people to participate in the electoral process. Section 6 ” Cristina Francisco, Founder of Circle of Women with Disabilities, Dominican Republic How Did the Project Include People with Disabilities in Elections and Political Life? Management – IFES hired a woman with a disability to manage the project and provided a sub-award to a local DPO which tasked an all-female team to lead the project. All activities were developed in collaboration with this team. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – IFES facilitated the signing of a MoU between the Junta Central Electoral (JCE) and 18 local DPOs. This agreement, the first the JCE has ever signed with DPOs, promoted collaboration between these groups on ways to improve inclusion and election access for persons with disabilities. Equal Access: How to Include Persons with Disabilities in Elections and Political Processes 69