Developing key messages to ensure inclusion and accessibility

This event forms part of broader efforts under the Inclusive Lesotho programme, funded by the European Union (EU) Delegation in Lesotho, to strengthen civic and voter education and promote democratic engagement beyond election day. The workshop adopted a participatory approach to create key messages and taglines, bringing together representatives from the media, youth and women’s groups, organisations of people with disabilities, including people with blindness and albinism, as well as guides and sign language interpreters.

Participants identified barriers affecting the electoral participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. This is why the diversity of voices helped ensure that the messages created would resonate with different sections of the population. The workshop successfully mapped and developed core campaign messages, as well as audience-specific messages promoting rights, inclusion, access to electoral processes and active participation. The messages focused on why participation matters, how marginalized communities can participate meaningfully, and what policy recommendations can strengthen participatory governance.

“Effective campaign messages are essential to ensure that barriers are clearly understood, rights and available electoral services are communicated in accessible ways, and communities are encouraged to participate meaningfully in democratic and electoral processes”, one participant noted.

The event produced targeted advocacy and awareness messages for women, youth and persons with disabilities, with emphasis on participation, inclusion, information, representation, and leadership. It concluded with participant-developed calls to action, including the message: 

“The true measure of democracy is not who wins, but who participates in decision-making. We want a seat at the table. #ThePowerIsOurs.”  

The participants discussed the best communication channels to ensure messages reach all constituencies, furthermore, debates around platforms and their power to expand the reach of messages also took place.

Lastly, the final messages were shared with the participants by LNFOD, with the objective of sharing the messages with the Portfolio Committee of the Social Cluster in Parliament. The intended aim is to raise awareness of the legal barriers hindering participation and representation within political parties and ultimately in the National Assembly and the Senate. The event concluded with a clear action plan, roadmap implementation, and key messages as well as taglines, cognisant of the EU values and International IDEA's.