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Zero conference 2015The right to vote for everyone

RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS FOR 136,000 PEOPLE

Seikichi Nagoya 名兒耶 清吉 MO2, United Nations Office at Vienna, Vienna International Center

27 February 2015 9:15-10:45

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Seikichi and Takumi

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•おはようございます。 Good morning. •My name is Seikichi Nagoya.•My English is bad, but let me try.

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•My daughter, Takumi, took the Japanese government to the court. •But Takumi is not with us today. •Takumi is not fit to travel a long distance, unfortunately. •My wife is also too weak to travel.

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•But I have three daughters, Takumi’s sisters, with me. •Chinami, Ayumi and Megumi. •My wife, Takumi’s sisters and a brother went to all the eight hearings.

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•Takumi was born with Down syndrome and is now 52.•After graduating from a special school, she has been having a part time job. •When she turned 20, she got a voting right. •Takumi had been voting for 25 years.

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•We used to go to the polling station together, as a family.•In the polling station, Takumi cast her votes alone.•Polling officials used to thank her, and she was happy.

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•But when I turned 64 when Takumi was 45, I was concerned for her future, and placed her under my guardianship.•Then her voting rights were deprived.•When my wife and I went to voting, Takumi used to see us off, without emotions.

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•I was such a fool. •One day, she said “the guardianship system should be scrapped”.•Only then, I realized that she just wanted to vote, like everyone else.

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•I felt so ashamed. •I started to question this unfair deprivation of basic human rights, based on the guardianship.

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•Then I consulted a respected lawyer, Ms. Sugiura, who will speak more in detail.•I have known and trusted her.

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•Ms. Sugiura and her team helped us to reach a happy ending. •The voting rights of more than 136,000 persons have been restored. •Professor Nagase helped us spread this news to the world.

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In conslusion

•Let me close by saying that the CRPD was supporting us very much. •Now I am now promoting a local law prohibiting disability discrimination and promoting an inclusive community in my town, to make the CRPD a reality.

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ありがとうございます。 Thank you!

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•Now I will show the video of Takumi, interviewed by Ms. Sugiura.