A/HRC/30/26 voters with poor vision are provided with magnifying lenses. Those measures enable voters with visual impairments to vote independently. States also provided information on the measures adopted to allow persons with disabilities to be accompanied by a person of their choice when casting their vote. Some States reported that they organized regular training opportunities for all officials responsible for elections on how to interact with persons with different impairments and how to support them in the exercise of the right to vote. 61. One of the best ways to guarantee that the measures adopted are appropriate is to involve people with disabilities in their design. Norway indicated that organizations representing persons with disabilities participated in the testing of electoral equipment and that, at the general election in 2009, there was no significant difference in voter participation among people with disabilities and the general population. 62. Lifting all restrictions on the political participation of persons with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities is another crucial step to the full implementation of right to political and public participation.71Austria lifted all restrictions on the right of persons with disabilities to vote and to be elected; persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities are allowed to exercise their political rights on an equal basis with others.72 Other vulnerable groups 63. A growing number of States allow some form of local electoral involvement of noncitizens within their territory.73 Norway reported providing grants to immigrant organizations to contribute to participation, dialogue and interaction. A number of countries have developed systems of consultation with migrant communities at the national and local levels. In Italy, several municipalities have set up consultative councils for foreigners, who represent either a country or a geographical area.74 Portugal appointed a high commissioner for immigrants and ethnic minorities, whose role is to consult immigrant organizations on proposed draft legislation and on the implementation of laws that have a direct impact on them.75 64. The Committee on the Rights of the Child called on governments to make renewed efforts to ensure that children’s views are heard and taken into account.76A positive initiative in that regard is the Children in Action project that was launched in South Africa to include children’s participation in parliamentary hearings and public debates.77 In accordance with its Constitution, which establishes the right of children and adolescents to social participation and to be consulted in matters affecting them, Ecuador created an advisory council on childhood and adolescence, in 2007. As regards young voters, in 2012, Argentina lowered its voting age from 18 to 16, thus allowing close to a million and a half young people to be included in the electoral roll. Other countries that allow 16 year olds to 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 16 A/HRC/19/36, paras. 39, 69. For other examples of best practices regarding the right of persons with disabilities to participate in the conduct of public affairs, see A/HRC/19/36. Including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Sweden and certain Swiss cantons where foreign residents have the right to vote and to be elected at the local level. Council of Europe, Political and social participation of immigrants through consultative bodies, 1999 (CDMG (99) 21), p. 46. Ibid., p. 56. OHCHR, “UN experts urge real dialogue with children about their rights” press release, 23 September 2014, available at www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx? NewsID=15084&LangID=E. John Wall and Anandini Dar, “Children’s political representation: the right to make a difference”, International Journal of Children’s Rights, vol. 19, No. 4 (2011), p. 377.