Ramiro Nochez-McNutt is a seasoned professional with over 19 years of experience working in international organizations, notably the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In his current role at the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) in Guatemala, he focuses his efforts on the development and implementation of the National Disability Certification System. As a someone who identifies as a person with disability, he shares his journey and the challenges of ensuring the political inclusion for persons with disabilities in Guatemala.
A Call to Action for Disability Data
Ramiro’s work in disability advocacy began in 2013 when he joined the Ministry of Social Development. “I discovered there was no data about the disabled population,” he explains. Without a registry, developing effective public policy is almost impossible. Although initial efforts to create a disability information system faced political roadblocks, Ramiro’s determination led him to the MSPAS, where he now works on implementing Guatemala’s National Disability Certification System.
The problem is that the actions are not coordinated. Disability is not on the political agenda. We need to work in that space, so I decided to start my career in political science because I wanted to address the problems that we face.
Barriers to Political Representation
Although Guatemala has a National Council for the Attention of Persons with Disabilities (CONADIS) as an advisory and coordinating body for inclusion policies, and despite considerable investments and efforts also from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), there are still weaknesses in the governance scheme for coordinating disability policies and a poor data situation. Ramiro highlights the stark lack of political representation for persons with disabilities in Guatemala: “We are not included even in political parties,” he notes, citing a lack of accessibility and societal prejudice as key barriers. Campaigns often neglect basic accommodations, like ramps, and political parties fail to see persons with disabilities as viable candidates.
Exploring Political Inclusion in Guatemala
Ramiro’s ongoing thesis investigates the limited political participation of people with disabilities in Guatemala’s general elections, focusing on the 2015, 2019, and 2023 electoral cycles. The study examines the architectural, attitudinal, and institutional barriers that hinder them from running for public offices and investigates the behaviour of political parties and actors who fail promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in electoral processes. It is also about how candidates with disabilities perceive their own opportunities and challenges in political participation.
The study describes cases where blind persons have tried to stand for election as candidates, but got very few votes. Therefore, persons with disabilities tend to feel second-class citizens, Ramiro states. This attitude is difficult to overcome, because it’s been created by social stigmatisation for such a long time. Despite the challenges, Ramiro is determined to shift perceptions. “Society might think persons with disabilities cannot perform, but we need to challenge these attitudes—both societal and personal,” he says.
Out of 20,000 candidates for positions in Guatemala’s last public election, only three were persons with disabilities, and none were elected. Ramiro underscores the complexity of the issue, pointing to low education levels, cultural diversity, and entrenched colonial and religious thinking. Despite these hurdles, he emphasizes the need to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities in legislative processes.
A Vision for Change
When asked if there is an expectation by society or political parties that candidates with disabilities will only be interested in disability related topics and therefore not represent the general population, Ramiro mentions that, in as much as this could be a possibility, increasing political participation is key to ensuring that persons with disabilities can influence laws and policies that affect their lives. “We need to bring our problems and our situation, what we are facing, into congress to make laws,” he says. “This is what I want to investigate so that I will be able to bring these political parties the idea that it would be good for them to include disability within their agendas.” By advocating for inclusion within political parties and campaigns, he hopes to create a more equitable political landscape.
Ramiro’s work is a powerful reminder that representation matters. His efforts to bridge gaps in data, policy, and political inclusion pave the way for a more equitable society in Guatemala and beyond.
