A/HRC/RES/19/11 public life on an equal basis with others, and noting that the exclusion or restriction of political rights of persons with disabilities on the basis of disability constitutes discrimination contrary to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Emphasizing that full and effective participation and inclusion in society is a general principle of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and thus that participation in political and public life on an equal basis with others is closely interrelated with and interdependent on other Convention provisions, including those that require States parties to ensure non-discrimination and accessibility and to recognize legal capacity and the right to participate in the community on an equal basis with others, Recognizing that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple forms of discrimination, including in their participation in political and public life, 1. Welcomes the fact that, to date, one hundred and fifty three States have signed and one hundred and nine States and one regional integration organization have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and that ninety States have signed and sixty six States have ratified or acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention, and calls upon those States and regional integration organizations that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention and the Optional Protocol to consider doing so as a matter of priority; 2. Encourages States that have ratified the Convention and have submitted one or more reservations to it to initiate a process to review regularly the effect and continued relevance of such reservations, and to consider the possibility of withdrawing them; 3. Welcomes the thematic study on participation in political and public life by persons with disabilities prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,1 and calls upon all stakeholders to consider the findings and recommendations of the study; 4. Calls upon States parties to ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected, and to participate in the conduct of public affairs; 5. Also calls upon States parties to adopt and implement appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can participate effectively and fully in political and public life on an equal basis with others, including by, inter alia: (a) Providing persons with disabilities with access to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity and, where necessary, and at their request, allowing assistance in voting by a person of their own choice; (b) Providing reasonable accommodation and eliminating barriers that prevent or limit effective and full participation in political and public life, including physical and communication barriers, such as inaccessible polling stations or the lack of election information or materials in accessible formats; (c) Protecting the right to vote by secret ballot and the right to stand for elections and to effectively hold office, and to have access to public service positions, including by providing reasonable accommodation; (d) Promoting public awareness campaigns and training programmes relevant to the exercise of political rights by persons with disabilities, and ensuring an inclusive 1 2 A/HRC/19/36.