Catherine Visensio Lolika speaks to Eye Radio at her Office. 23rd Feb 2023. (Photo: Awan Moses).

A visually impaired advocate is encouraging people with disabilities to join political parties and contest in the December 2024 elections.

Catherine Vicencio Lolika said persons with disabilities have been underrepresented in various organs of the government, especially in parliament.

She said there is a great need for members of the minority group to joint political parties and contest in the elections, to vote and be voted.

“My advice to my colleagues with disability, let them join political party, because it not easy to be represented in the parliament without having political party,” she said.

“So, for us [disable persons] to be represented in the parliament it has to go through party. So, I’m advising my fellow persons with disabilities to join any party of their choice so that we achieve our affirmative actions.”

Vicencio also urged the political parties to consider giving persons with disability the opportunities to participate in the elections including making voting centers accessible to them.

“During elections, let them [political parties] consider persons with disability. All the election centers should be access able for persons with disability to go and vote for the persons of their choice.”

Vicencio further explained why persons with disabilities must participate in the 2024 general elections.

“I’d like to say that persons with disability have right to vote and to be elected as candidates for the leadership of this nation.”

“I’d want to say to the government that, let them give opportunities to the persons with disability to participate, and represented, because up to now, we don’t have representatives of persons with disability in the national parliament.”

“We only know the representatives of war widows that are in the national parliament but people which are affected with natural diseases are not there in the national parliament.”

Catherine, a graduate of the University of Juba, has not allowed disability to define her life and has overcome the challenges facing disabled people in South Sudan.

She currently works as an empowerment officer at the Organization for Voluntary International Cooperation (OVCI), an entity that campaigns for people with disabilities in the country.

Catherine holds a Diploma in the College of Community Studies and Rural Development, Department of Rural Development.