To ensure information is accessible for all with disabilities during the upcoming General Elections in Fiji, U.S. Charge d’affaires Tony Greubel today handed over the first-ever braille Assistive Voting Steps Easy to Read Guide to the Supervisor of Elections Mr. Mohammed Saneem.
The Assistive Voting Steps Easy to Read Guide has valuable election information for voters, including reasonable accommodations available to persons with disabilities at polling venues, such as being able to bring a person of their choice and being able to vote within a 300-meter radius of their selected polling venue.
Seinimilia Seru from the United Blind Persons and a representative of Elections Disability Access Working Group (EDAWG) believes the translation of voter materials into braille and other formats is a significant step taken by FEO and other donor partners to ensure inclusivity of all persons in the upcoming general elections.
Charge d’affaires Greubel said, “We are proud of the work that has been done to develop this tool and the continued engagement with the Fiji Elections Office and Elections Disability Accessibility Working Group because we firmly believe that responsive governance is built when institutions and policies are accessible, accountable, and responsive to all their constituents, especially disadvantaged groups. To advance these beliefs, the U.S. government, through the USAID and with support from SPC, will continue to strengthen democratic governance in the Pacific and advance a shared vision of a resilient, free and open Blue Pacific.”
A total of 2,100 copies of the guide have been printed to be distributed to the designated polling venues in Fiji.
Miles Young, Director of the Human Rights and Social Development Division of SPC said the contents of the Assistive Voting Steps Easy to Read Guide will also be available in other alternative accessible formats, such as sign language, audio, video, braille, and easy-to-read print versions as well as translated into both iTaukei and Hindi languages.
Chairperson of the Fiji Electoral Commission Mukesh Nand while receiving the braille guides said today’s event is yet another step towards building electoral processes in Fiji that are inclusive and promote greater access and participation.
“Since 2014, the Fijian Elections Office has taken direct initiatives to work with Disabled Persons Organizations and other institutions that have expertise in this area,” he added.
“These materials will allow them to understand the electoral process better and participate effectively.”
The United States International Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Promoting Just, Engaged, Civic-minded and Transparent (PROJECT) Governance program implemented by The Pacific Community (SPC) produced this braille Assistive Voting Steps Easy to Read Guide.
SPC worked closely with the International Federation of Electoral Systems (IFES), EDAWG, and the Fiji Elections Office (FEO) to make elections information and associated materials for Persons with Disabilities more accessible, including making information available in braille for all individuals who are blind and vision impaired. This is the first time ever that Fiji elections information materials are available in this format. The content of the braille publication is a collaboration between SPC, International Federation of Electoral Systems (IFES), FEO and EDAWG. The production of the 2100 copies of the Braille Guide was carried out by the Fiji Society for the Blind.
