“We recognize now that violence against women in politics is not only a threat to women, but also a threat to democracy.”

Madeleine K. Albright

Political participation is key to advancing disability rights and countering discrimination across all political spheres. Inclusive political systems and states can only be achieved if all sectors and segments of the population have equitable, accessible and open space to work together to advance collective priorities.

"By unanimous votes, the ayes have it," Dr. Abass Bundu, the speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, declared as his gavel hit the large wooden desk. Finally, after 13 months of deliberations, negotiations, and suspense, the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill, 2021 was passed by parliament on November 15, 2022. Two months later, President Julius Maada Bio signed the bill into law, surrounded by women activists and civil society, including NDI’s Senior Resident Director for Sierra Leone, Mohamed Konneh.

When Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters crooned, “We don't need no education, We don't need no thought control” to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall, performing in what used to be the “no man’s lot” between the two Germanys - authoritarian communist East and democratic West - a crowd of 350,00 present and hundreds of millions watching live in 52 countries, joined in unison “Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone!