This year Maldives has passed a major milestone in ensuring the rights of the visually impaired, guaranteed by Article 21(c) of the UDHR, which states that, “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the government, which includes every single person who is eligible to vote.” For the first time in the Maldives, individuals with visual impairments, voted independently in the 2023 Presidential Elections, This was enabled, by changes to the required legislations on voting in the Maldives.
- Ms. Mariyam Muna, President of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives