IFES and the Dominican Republic's electoral commission, the Central Electoral Board (JCE), signed an agreement to strengthen democracy and increase access to the electoral process for persons with disabilities in the island nation.

JCE President Magistrate Roberto Rosario Márquez and IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney signed the document in a ceremony that took place on February 16, 2012, in Santo Domingo.

The agreement is rooted in the common interests of both organizations in promoting and strengthening democratic processes.

In light of this, both institutions committed to: sharing best practices and materials to advance knowledge and increase professional enrichment in the field of elections; assisting each other and third-party institutions in expanding electoral expertise and practice of inclusion; and collaborating in the development of methodologies and programs.

 A key area of focus will be on the transmission of knowledge regarding the development of training and voter education materials on inclusion, transparency, political finance and electoral administration.

Ahead of the May presidential elections in the Dominican Republic, IFES has started to implement a program funded by the United States Agency for International Development to increase access for persons with disabilities. IFES will work with the JCE and local disabled persons’ organizations.

Inherent to IFES’ mission is encouraging countries around the world to include procedures and provisions that allow persons with disabilities to participate fully in their country's political processes.

Click here to read more about this agreement in English and here for Spanish.