FEO holds Disability Sensitization Training to strengthen electoral inclusion

To provide inclusivity and accessibility for all Fijians, including persons with disabilities, the Fijian Elections Office held a Disability Sensitisation Training today.

Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa, says disability inclusion is not about charity or sympathy – it is about dignity, fairness, and respect.

Mataiciwa says the training is a call to action to break down barriers and build an electoral system where no one is left behind.

She says inclusion does not happen by chance but requires deliberate and sustained effort, and accessibility must be the standard, not an afterthought.

The FEO says the training was conducted by the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation and brought together representatives from Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and key FEO staff.

They say the training equipped participants with practical skills in voter data collection, using tools like the Washington Group Short Set questions, and strategies to engage respectfully and effectively with voters with disabilities.

The FEO says this initiative furthers their partnership with the FDPF and aims to ensure that all electoral services are fully accessible, and that persons with disabilities are empowered to participate meaningfully in the democratic process.