Exercise: Who influences the decision-makers?

By now you should know how ratification works in your country – in other words, who decides whether or not your country should ratify a convention like the disability Convention. As we noted though, it is not just important to know who the decision-makers are, it is also important to find out who influences the decision-makers. These may include other government officials, people outside government, religious leaders, human rights NGOs, other NGOs, etc.

• Make a list of individuals and groups you believe will have influence with the ratification decision-makers.
• Identify those individuals and groups you believe would be supportive of ratifying the new disability Convention, and why you think they would be supportive. Consider how you might work with them to convince the decision-makers to ratify the Convention.
• Identify those individuals and groups you believe would not be supportive of ratifying the new disability Convention, why you think they would not be supportive, and what you think the impact of their lack of support would be. If you think that their support is necessary to convince the decision-makers to ratify the Convention, consider what you might do to change their opinion.