CERD/C/64/CO/5 (CERD, 2004), Nepal, p. 17: The Committee urges the State party to engage in efforts to promote awareness among the general public, as well as among members of disadvantaged communities, of the importance of their active participation in public and political life. The Committee recommends that the State party continue to enforce special measures to guarantee to members of disadvantaged groups the right to participate in elections, to vote and stand for election, and to have due representation in government, legislative bodies and the judiciary. A/HRC/13/25 (Forum on Minority Issues, 2010), p. 23: States should ensure that all mechanisms, procedures and institutions established to promote and increase the political participation of persons belonging to minorities take into account the specific needs of minority women, as well as those of other groups within minority communities potentially subjected to intersectional discrimination, such as minorities with disabilities. 11.5 Are there provisions prescribing civic and voter education on the rights of persons with disabilities? Right and Opportunity to Participate in Public Affairs ICCPR, Art. 25: Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions: (a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives. CRPD, Preamble: The States Parties to the present Convention recognize the importance of accessibility [...] to information and communication, in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Definitions: ‘Communication’ includes languages, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as written, audio, plainlanguage, human-reader and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, including accessible information and communication technology. CRPD, Art. 29: States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall undertake: b) To promote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs, including: (i) Participation in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country, and in the activities and administration of political parties; (ii) Forming and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at international, national, regional and local levels. UNCAC, Art. 13(1): Each State Party shall take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, […] in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption. This participation should be strengthened by such measures as: (b) Ensuring that the public has effective access to information. CCPR, GC 25, p. 11: States must take effective measures to ensure that all persons entitled to vote are able to exercise that right. p. 12: Positive measures should be taken to overcome specific difficulties, such as illiteracy, language barriers, poverty, or impediments to freedom of movement which prevent persons entitled to vote from exercising their rights effectively. Information and materials about voting should be available in minority languages. Specific methods, such as photographs and symbols, should be adopted to ensure that illiterate voters have adequate information on which to base their choice. States parties should indicate in their reports the manner in which the difficulties highlighted in this paragraph are dealt with. p. 20: Assistance provided to the disabled, blind or illiterate should be independent. Electors should be fully informed of these guarantees. CRPD/C/PER/CO/1, Peru (2012), p. 44: The Committee remains concerned at: (b) the lack of information on measures taken in order to inform the persons with disabilities on the above-mentioned developments and prevent such violations from happening in the future. p. 45: The Committee recommends that the State party: (b) Reach out to vulnerable individuals and protect people with disabilities from such violations in the future, including through relevant training. International Obligations for Elections 163 Part B. Electoral Components and Tables of Jurisprudence ICCPR, Art. 26: All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.