Inclusivity for Women, Persons with Disabilities, and Vulnerable Groups Debate

Will provide capacity-building training to empower women and build their self-confidence.

• Provide training to build women's self-confidence and capacity.

  [19:30]

Will support the elderly by preserving their social roles, providing housing for the destitute, and creating economic opportunities for those able to work.

• Enable the elderly to share their knowledge with the next generation.

  [20:32]

• Provide housing options for elderly people without support.

  [20:43]

• Create economic opportunities for elderly individuals who are capable of working.

  [20:52]

• Organize elderly associations to protect their rights and well-being.

  [21:13]

Focuses on merit-based political representation, having fielded 85 female and 7 PWD candidates in the current election.

• Fielded 85 female candidates and 7 candidates with disabilities (including 2 women) in the 7th election.

  [21:56]

• Focuses on bringing forward capable candidates based on merit.

  [22:19]

Will implement education and health policies tailored to support women and PWDs, and encourage private sector social responsibility.

• Provide training and tailor economic sectors to support women and PWDs.

  [23:11]

• Implement health and education policies designed to accommodate PWDs.

  [23:28]

• Encourage and incentivize the private sector to produce educational materials for PWDs.

  [23:40]

• Change societal attitudes to reduce social pressures on PWDs.

  [24:20]

Will provide mindset training, maternal health packages, ensure equal pay, and claims high female representation in its executive and central committees.

• Provide capacity-building training to change women's mindsets and build confidence.

  [25:38]

• Implement maternal health and hygiene packages.

  [26:06]

• Ensure equal pay and equal participation in the workforce.

  [26:13]

• Claims 16 out of 32 central committee members and 8 out of 15 executive committee members are women.

  [27:44]

Highlights its record of appointing women to high leadership roles, enacting laws against harmful practices, and holding perpetrators accountable.

• Achieved 51% female representation in the cabinet (12 out of 23 members).

  [29:09] [31:10]

• Appointed a female mayor for Addis Ababa.

  [29:27]

• Enacted legal frameworks to prevent harmful traditional practices and hold perpetrators accountable.

  [30:33]

Proposes using accumulated pension funds to create suitable work for those who become disabled early, providing medical equipment regionally, and adjusting pensions to inflation.

• Use accumulated funds to create suitable work opportunities for citizens who become disabled before retirement.

  [32:47]

• Provide medical equipment (e.g., radiation, lab) at the regional level and free healthcare for the poor.

  [33:36]

• Adjust pension payments to match the purchasing power of the Birr.

  [34:01]

Plans to revise the education policy to be practical and tech-focused to prevent dropouts, and will establish a financial system to support the elderly.

• Revise the education policy to be practical and technology-focused.

  [35:47]

• Establish a financial system and better social security policies for the elderly.

  [36:26]

• Build schools in pastoralist and agrarian areas and ensure private sector social responsibility.

  [36:46]

Believes a comprehensive disability law is needed, has fielded many PWD candidates, and has PWDs in its executive committee.

• Advocate for a comprehensive law tailored to the specific needs of PWDs.

  [38:22]

• Fielded 844 candidates, with one-third being women and several PWDs.

  [39:22]

• Has two PWDs in its executive committee and PWDs leading disability wings.

  [52:31] [53:24]

Promises mandatory inclusive building designs, a 5% job quota for PWDs, and details its PWD candidate and leadership numbers.

• Enact and enforce mandatory inclusive design laws for all government and private buildings.

  [40:36]

• Allocate a 5% job quota for PWDs.

  [41:16]

• Provide discounted health and medication services, and expand assistive technologies like Braille.

  [41:25]

• Fielded 315 candidates, including 135 women and 17 PWDs (5 female).

  [41:45] [47:42]

• Has 2 PWDs in the executive committee and 5 in the central committee.

  [41:59] [47:56]

Has finalized the preparation of a comprehensive disability law, mandates a 2% candidate quota for PWDs, and claims 2% of its members are PWDs.

• Finalized the preparation of a comprehensive disability policy/law and will implement it shortly after the election.

  [44:01] [45:33]

• Revising the building proclamation and ensuring new corridor developments are accessible to PWDs.

  [44:50]

• Mandated a 2% quota for PWD candidates in the 7th national election.

  [49:27]

• Claims 2% of its 14 million members are PWDs.

  [50:57]

Aims to change the cultural stigma around disability and has PWDs in regional leadership, though none in the federal executive committee.

• Work to change the cultural perception that views disability as a curse or shame.

  [45:52]

• Has PWDs in leadership positions at regional and zonal wing levels, though none in the federal executive committee.

  [51:08]

Uses a 50+1 women representation model, provides regular training, uses Braille for party documents, and plans digital reporting for GBV.

• Operates on a 50+1 women representation model for decision-making.

  [55:13] [56:13]

• Provides party programs and bylaws in Braille.

  [55:49]

• Will implement digital reporting systems to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

  [56:42]

• Will give official recognition to sign language.

  [56:29]

Mandates all ministries to include vulnerable groups in their policies, focuses on GBV prevention and rehabilitation, and will ratify the women's policy soon.

• Mandated all federal ministries to include PWDs, the elderly, and vulnerable groups in their policies.

  [57:06]

• Drafted a comprehensive disability policy with stakeholder consultation.

  [58:00]

• Addresses GBV through prevention, legal action, medical support, and economic rehabilitation for victims.

  [58:41]

• Will ratify and implement the women's empowerment policy shortly.

  [59:09]

Focuses on translating policies into practice, ensuring equal decision-making power, and tackling GBV starting from the family and school levels.

• Ensure women, PWDs, and the elderly have equal opportunities in political representation and decision-making.

  [59:58]

• Tackle GBV by working at the family, school, and cultural levels.

  [1:01:05]

• Empower women to protect themselves and report violence immediately to medical centers.

  [1:02:09]

Plans to revise laws, provide severe disability subsidies, make sign language nationwide, and establish independent justice institutions and rehab centers for GBV.

• Provide special subsidies for citizens with severe disabilities.

  [1:03:12]

• Implement sign language nationwide across all media communications.

  [1:03:48]

• Revise laws, including domestic violence laws, to better address the nature of GBV.

  [1:04:16] [1:05:01]

• Establish independent justice institutions and rehabilitation centers for GBV victims.

  [1:04:24]

Acknowledges the delay due to extensive consultations but confirms the preparation is complete and it will be ratified shortly.

• The policy preparation is complete after extensive consultations and will be ratified and implemented shortly.

  [1:07:23]

Argues that current associations are used for political purposes by the ruling party and need to be truly independent to fight for justice.

• Claims current associations are under the ruling party's influence and fail to fight for women's justice.

  [1:08:33]

• Believes associations will be more effective if they operate independently from government interference.

  [1:09:16]

Will provide tailored vocational training based on their capacities.

• Provide tailored vocational training based on what individuals with intellectual disabilities can comprehend.

  [1:10:26]

Has established inclusive resource centers and enacted laws for affirmative action in employment.

• Included provisions for PWD education in the general education proclamation.

  [1:10:56]

• Established 1,621 inclusive resource centers for education.

  [1:11:29]

• Implementing affirmative action and special support measures for employment.

  [1:11:59]

Will include them in policy-making and remove party dependency for accessing education and jobs.

• Include individuals with intellectual disabilities in designing policies and school facilities.

  [1:13:06]

• Remove party dependency requirements for accessing education and employment.

  [1:13:33]

Will support schools to accommodate them, provide tax incentives for supportive private institutions, and support their families.

• Require schools to build systems and hire specially trained teachers to accommodate children with intellectual disabilities.

  [1:14:57]

• Provide tax exemptions and incentives for private health and education institutions that support them.

  [1:15:51]

• Provide special support to families caring for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

  [1:16:16]

Clarified that the policy offers up to a 60% tax exemption as an incentive for companies that hire PWDs, not a requirement to hire a 60% PWD workforce.

• The policy provides up to a 60% tax exemption for private institutions that hire PWDs, as an incentive.

  [1:17:27] [1:18:02]

Mandates a 2% quota for PWD candidates, including women.

• Enforced a mandatory 2% quota for PWD candidates, which includes female PWDs.

  [1:19:14]

Rejects the charity model in favor of a rights-based, developmental model focusing on job creation and education.

• Follows a rights-based and developmental model rather than a charity model.

  [1:19:31] [1:21:34]

• Focuses on creating job opportunities, education, and training with adequate budget allocation.

  [1:21:52]

Will integrate PWDs into society with government support, but needs to conduct studies to determine the exact model.

• Will conduct studies to determine the most appropriate model for supporting PWDs.

  [1:20:08]

Rejects dependency on charity and advocates for using national resources to support PWDs.

• Will utilize domestic national resources rather than relying solely on charity and dependency.

  [1:20:34] [1:21:01]

Is incorporating UNCRPD principles into the new comprehensive law and monitoring the building proclamation, ensuring new corridor developments are accessible.

• Incorporating UNCRPD principles into the upcoming comprehensive disability law.

  [1:23:29]

• Monitoring the building proclamation and ensuring new corridor developments in Addis Ababa and 60 cities are accessible.

  [1:24:10]

Argues implementation is politicized and promises to include PWDs directly in evaluating and designing policies.

• Claims the implementation of laws is politicized and only applied when it benefits the ruling system.

  [1:25:07]

• Will include PWDs directly in designing policies and procedures that work for them.

  [1:25:59]

Acknowledges gaps in UNCRPD implementation due to budget constraints and promises to allocate adequate funding.

• Acknowledges gaps in UNCRPD implementation primarily due to budget constraints.

  [1:26:34]

• Will allocate adequate budget to properly implement disability laws and support the elderly.

  [1:27:02] [1:27:32]

Addresses GBV through awareness, legal accountability, and economic empowerment, and claims to be making services and infrastructure accessible.

• Addresses GBV through community awareness, legal accountability using criminal and family laws, and economic empowerment.

  [1:29:55]

• Working to make educational and service locations accessible and providing tailored materials for PWDs.

  [1:30:44]

States that GBV is addressed through legal accountability and awareness, and notes that those convicted of GBV are denied amnesty.

• Denies annual amnesty/pardons to individuals convicted of gender-based violence.

  [1:35:02]

• Focuses on legal accountability and community awareness rather than just emotional reactions.

  [1:34:28]

Claims the government has provided land to many charities like Mekedonia and is supporting the elderly with housing and private sector partnerships.

• The government has provided land to numerous charitable organizations, such as Mekedonia, across various regions.

  [1:33:37]

• Supporting the elderly by providing housing options and partnering with the private sector to fill gaps.

  [1:34:02]

States 33% of candidates are women, and wealth distribution will come from proper management of national resources, taxes, and loans.

• Fielded 33% (85 in number) female candidates.

  [1:36:24]

• Will distribute wealth by properly managing national resources, taxes, and international loans/grants.

  [1:37:03]