All citizens gain voting rights - Switzerland rectifies past errors
In a significant move towards equality and self-determination, the Swiss Parliament has approved the motion "Election Rights for People with Disabilities." With 29 votes in favour, 13 against, and 2 abstentions, the Council of States has underscored the need to abolish the discriminatory provision in the Federal Constitution.
The motion, a success of the first Disability Session of 2023, demands that no one should be excluded from the right to vote due to a disability. Article 136 of the Federal Constitution, which excludes persons "who are deprived of their civil rights due to mental illness or mental deficiency" from exercising political rights, is set to be amended.
The umbrella organization Inclusion Handicap, which represents 1.7 million people with disabilities in Switzerland, has been a strong advocate for this change. Maya Graf, Councilor and Co-President of Inclusion Handicap, stated that politics regulates a large part of our lives, and having the right to vote means being recognized as a full citizen.
The decision is a historic one. Currently, 16,000 Swiss cannot vote, a situation that is set to change. Geneva, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and Glarus are among the cantons that have already decided to amend the corresponding provision in their constitutions. Zurich, Zug, and Solothurn are also pursuing a similar solution.
The media release from Inclusion Handicap states that Parliament demands a constitutional amendment for election rights. Philipp Schüpp of disability organization Pro Infirmis is confident that the people will put an end to this discrimination. Islam Alijaj, a Zurich resident and the first politician with cerebral palsy to enter the National Council in 2023, has been following the debate. He believes that this move is a strong signal for equality.
However, there is still more work to be done for mobility for all to be achieved. The Federal Council is tasked with implementing the motion, and the date for the referendum is not yet known. The current provision in the Federal Constitution is not compatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), as reported by the Federal Council in 2023.
The Council of States' vote is a significant step towards inclusion and respect for the rights and dignity of all people with disabilities. Inclusion Handicap, the organization in Switzerland that advocates for this cause, remains hopeful that the people will continue to support this movement, ensuring that no one is left behind in the democratic process.
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