Stephen Dhieu Kuach, Director for People with Disabilities in the Office of the Vice President for Gender and Youth Cluster. (Photo: BBC).

The Director for Disability Affairs in the Office of Vice President for Youth and Gender Cluster has welcomed the allocation of 2% representation of People with Disabilities in the National Election Act 2023.

On Friday, the National Cabinet passed the National Elections Act 2012 amendment bill 2023 – providing people with special needs 3% for youth representation in the electoral processes.

In response, Stephen Dhieu said the allocation is short of 5% which the people with special needs and rights groups demanded.

However, he said the affirmative action is better than nothing.

He now hopes that once the bill is enacted into law, it will be implemented fully.

“We demanded 5% but the 2% is better than nothing, we had nobody before and we still have no one,” he told Eye Radio.

“But I will say 2% will make a change in how bill inclusive and comprehensive in the nature of including everybody in the parliament.”

However, Dhieu said he doubts that the provision will be implemented in practical term and hopes that the government “listen to us in terms of arrangements and how it will be implemented.”

He further added that the bill should also ensure inclusive funding for people with special needs ahead of the 2023/2024 fiscal budget.

“The implementation is that most of the bills and resolutions that have been passed in our country here remain on drawers so it is one of my concerns and with this bill,” he said.

“It is important that we work as the expert this particular one to avail the accurate information and knowledge to guide the electoral commissions and the parliament.”

“So, it is not just  2%, they shall also make sure that they are funding in term of the national budget for Education and Health sector inclusive kind of budget and shall start 2023 and 2024”.