By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their efforts to strengthen the capacity of partner organizations and organizations of Persons with Disabilities on monitoring electoral processes in the country, One Family People with support from Liliane Founds on Wednesday 10th April, 2023 concluded a one day workshop geared towards strengthening the capacity of 6 partner organizations and 15 organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) on monitoring Electoral Processes and Advocacy on breaking down all forms of Electoral barriers in the June 24, 2023 elections. The one day workshop was held at the St. Anthony Hall on Skye Street in Freetown.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Programs Manager of One Family People, Samuel P.O.V Macaulay said as the June 24, 2023 elections are fast approaching One Family People deemed it fit to hold the one day workshop geared towards strengthening the capacity of 6 partner organizations and 15 organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) on monitoring Electoral Processes and Advocacy.
He said that through the workshop persons with disabilities will be capacitated in order to monitor the June 24 elections as well as break down barriers that are imbedded in the electoral processes.
Samuel P.O.V Macaulay said that there has always been structural barriers that affect persons with disabilities in participating in the electioneering processes in the country, adding that in most cases schools are been used as polling stations and these schools according to him are not accessible for persons with disabilities to cast their votes.
He said that the preparation for persons with disabilities that has to do with the voting process is very challenging and it in that regard the workshop is been held in order to address these concerns.
The representative for National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Tamba Mondeh expressed appreciation to One Family People for holding the workshop which he described as very important towards addressing the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in the electioneering process.
He said that the Commission is very much aware of some of these challenges persons with disabilities are faced with and in that regard the Commission has also been working towards addressing them, adding that with the move taken by One Family People he is with the strong conviction that these challenges will be minimized.
Tamba Mondeh encouraged partner organizations and 15 organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) present to make good use of the opportunity given to them by One Family People by educating their constituents on how to address those challenges during the upcoming elections.
Representatives from Partner organizations and organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) applauded the move by One Family People for bringing them together in order to capacitate them on monitoring electoral processes in the country.
They assured all that as representatives from partner organizations and organizations of Persons with Disabilities they will cascade the information to their constituents in order to break down all forms of Electoral barriers in the June 24, 2023 elections.
The workshop was climaxed by the presentation of Monitoring Electoral Processes and Advocacy on Barriers-Free Elections by the Programs Manager of One Family People, Samuel P.O.V Macaulay which was followed by contributions as well as a Question and Answer session by the participants.
