In a primary, the Election Commission of India has urged the political parties to chorus from utilizing “derogatory or offensive language” in opposition to the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), within the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Commission has issued tips to the parties and their representatives and requested them to abide by them.
The ECI mentioned that it has been “made aware of use of derogatory or offensive language in the political discourse about Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Usage of such semantics in speech/ campaign by members of any political parties or their candidates, can be interpreted as an affront to the PwDs”.
It cited such phrases and mentioned, “Common examples of ableist language are words like dumb(gunga), retarded (pagal, sirphira), blind (andha, kana), deaf (behra), lame (langda, lula, apahij) etc. It is necessary to avoid usage of such derogatory language. PwDs have to be accorded justice and respect in political discourse/campaign”.
The Election Commission tips are as follows:
- Political parties and their representatives ought to not use in poor health/ derogatory/ insulting references on incapacity or PwDs throughout any public assertion/ speech, of their writings/articles/ outreach materials or political marketing campaign.
- Political parties and their representatives ought to not use incapacity/ PwDs or phrases referring to incapacity/ PwDs within the context of human incapacity throughout any public speech, of their writings/articles, or political marketing campaign.
- Political parties and their representatives ought to strictly keep away from feedback associated to disabilities/ PwDs that could be offensive or perpetuate stereotypes and prejudices.
- Any utilization of such language, terminology, context, mockery, derogatory references or insult to PwDs as talked about in factors (i), (ii) and (iii) could entice provisions of Section 92 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
- All marketing campaign supplies, together with speeches, social media posts, commercials, and press releases, should bear an inner assessment course of throughout the political celebration to establish and rectify any cases of ableist language, offensive or discriminatory in direction of people/ PwDs.
- All political parties ought to guarantee and will declare on their web site that they are going to use Disability & gender delicate language and etiquette in addition to respect inherent human equality, fairness, dignity and autonomy.
- All political parties shall use rights-based terminologies as talked about in CRPD (Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities) and not incline in direction of some other terminology.
- All political parties shall make their public speeches/ campaigns/ actions/ occasions accessible for all residents.
- All political parties could make their web site and social media content material digitally accessible to enable accessible interplay with persons with disabilities.
- All political parties could present a coaching module on incapacity for celebration staff in any respect ranges of political course of and shall appoint nodal authority to hear complaints from persons with disabilities pertaining to utilization of ableist language.
- Political parties could endeavour to embody extra PwDs at ranges similar to members and celebration staff to shed the attitudinal barrier of the celebration and public and supply equal alternatives.
