Call for Inputs: Breaking the glass ceiling: equal participation of persons with disabilities in political life

Issued by: Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities

Deadline: 31 October 2025

Purpose: To inform the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities report on equal participation of persons with disabilities in political life to be presented at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council 

Background 

In her upcoming thematic report to the 61^st session of the Human Rights Council (March 2026), the Special Rapporteur will examine the barriers, positive legal and policy measures, and other promising practices to protect, respect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities to stand for elections and to effectively hold public office, in line with the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (art. 29) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (art. 2 and art. 25).

Participation is a core principle and a cross-cutting issue under the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. People have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives, an essential right particularly for persons with disabilities whose voices, preferences and choices have been historically disregarded in public life. Since the adoption of the Convention, consultations with organizations of persons with disabilities in decision-making at different levels have become more frequent and their importance better recognized. Some progress has also been made in terms of the right to vote, particularly through measures to make polling stations accessible to persons with mobility and sensory impairments, although more remains to be done to include all persons with disabilities.

That said, being present at the table and casting ballots has not systematically translated into real influence and human rights-compliant policies and measures. One of the reasons is that persons with disabilities remain significantly unrepresented in political and public life, especially in leadership positions that direct and influence decision-making. The relative absence of persons with disabilities in such roles reinforces exclusion and ableist stereotypes about who is and is not “fit” to run for office and represent diverse constituencies. 

Objectives 

Through this report, the Special Rapporteur intends to raise awareness of existing barriers and formulate practical recommendations to ensure persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to stand in elections and hold public office, particularly in local and national elections. 

Key questions and types of input/comments sought 

To inform her report, the Special Rapporteur invites Governments, National Human Rights Institutions, national Parliaments, independent monitoring mechanisms, civil society organizations and networks, including organizations of persons with disabilities, and other relevant stakeholders, to contribute by submitting information and comments on the following issues:

• Existing data as well as monitoring and data collection tools on the level of political representation of persons with disabilities within local and national elected bodies.
• Legal restrictions on running in elections or holding public office based on disability, including for people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, and specific examples of such legislation and policies. 
• Existing stigma and ableist attitudes concerning the capacity of persons with disabilities to stand for elections and hold public office effectively.
• Other barriers that persons with disabilities face to enter politics, stand for elections and reach senior roles, including structural inaccessibility, financial challenges, and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
• Examples of successful measures and supports to ensure equal rights to stand in elections and hold public office effectively for persons with disabilities, including through reasonable accommodation, as well as specific examples and individual cases.