At present, there are an estimated 60 million persons with disabilities living throughout Southeast Asia who face barriers in exercising their political rights. The General Election Network for Disability Access (AGENDA), a network of Southeast Asian organizations focused on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, is hosting the first-ever conference on increasing political access in the region.
Taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia on February 1-2, the conference aims to increase dialogue and develop techniques to promote the equal and full participation of persons with disabilities in democratic processes. Progress in this area is crucial to ensuring all have a say in the way they are governed and all are engaged in the political process.
His Excellency Wardana, the Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, will kick off the conference as the keynote speaker. Over 100 representatives from disabled people's organizations, civil society, election management bodies, government, academia and other outlets are expected to attend. Together, they will share experiences and best practices in ensuring election access for persons with disabilities.
Beyond hearing notable speakers – which include Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Hasan Wirajuda, USAID Disability and Inclusive Development Coordinator Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo and Special Advisor for International Disability Rights of the State Department Judith Heumann – attendees will partake in election simulations and roleplaying to understand the barriers persons with disabilities face when voting.
AGENDA began in 2011 with IFES support. This consortium connects organizations working to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in the ASEAN region and increases dialogue equality.
The conference is open to the public. Those who are unable to attend can participate online through the Blackboard Collaboration Application.
Live updates are also available via Twitter by searching #AGENDAconf or by following AGENDA (@agendaasiaorg) and IFES (@IFES1987).
For more information about the conference or the event, please contact Christian Donn (cdonn@ifesindonesia.org).
Instructions on how to join the conference through Blackboard:
You may enter the system as early as you like to practice or prepare for the meeting. To join, click on the meeting link, type your name, click "Log in" and open the "meeting.jnlp" java file downloaded to your computer. Once you have connected, you will be prompted to select your Internet connection speed before joining the room. At this point, you are ready to participate. Once you arelogged in to the meeting, remember to press the "talk" button before speaking and to release the button once you have finished speaking.
If possible, we recommend that you use a headset with a microphone for the best possible audio. If you are planning to use the closed captioning, you may open the closed captioning window as soon as you enter the room by going to "View" on the menu bar and selecting "Closed Captioning Window" in the drop-down menu. The captioners are usually present 15 minutes before the meeting.
For detailed instructions on accessing and participating in the virtual meeting, see the "Getting Started Guide," and/or watch the "Online Orientation" (~6 min). It would be helpful to log in to the "Configuration Room" prior to the meeting to test your settings in an actual Blackboard Collaborate session. For additional Collaborate training materials please visit Blackboard Collaborate Services.
If you have any questions about virtual participation in the meeting, please contact IFES IT Officer, Mr. Arief Kurniawan, at arief@ifesindonesia.org.