ECI’s guidelines to political parties

ECI’s guidelines to political parties

News: Recently, The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued guidelines to political parties to use disability and gender sensitive language, and refrain from using derogatory references to persons with disabilities (PwD) in public speeches, campaigns and writings.

Key Guidelines:
• Political parties and their representatives are urged to refrain from using derogatory, insulting, or offensive references related to disability or PwDs in any public statements, speeches, writings, articles, or campaigns. ECI has also suggested that all campaigns remain accessible to all citizens.
• Specific terms considered ableist or offensive towards PwDs such as \'dumb,\' \'retarded,\' \'blind,\' “deaf,” \'lame,\' etc., are highlighted as language to be avoided.
• Political parties should commit on ther websites to using disability and gender-sensitive language.
• All campaign materials, including speeches, social media posts, advertisements, and press releases, should undergo internal review within the political party to identify and rectify instances of offensive language.
• Parties are encouraged to use rights-based terminologies as outlined in the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
• Any violation of the guidelines may fall under the provisions of Section 92 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.