Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Inclusion International - ILSMH

Burkina Faso

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Association des Parents et Amis d'Enfants Encéphalopathes du Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso
No reply was received from the Government of Burkina Faso.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): WBU, WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government, in guidelines adopted by a national disability council and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy is on prevention, rehabilitation, accessibility measures, individual support and anti-discrimination law.

Since the adoption of the Rules the government has conveyed the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special legislation and general legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities includes due process (legal remedy through the courts) and recourse procedure by a special agency, dealing with anti-discrimination issues. The non-judicial body for that purpose is a governmental body (administrative).

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court of law, the right to privacy and property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, employment, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that public places and the outdoor environment are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority and by local governments. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: access to public places and provision of specially adapted motor vehicles. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors and technical factors. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language is recognized as the official language of deaf people, is used as the first language in education of deaf people and is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are government measures to encourage media to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. The only service provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others is literature in Braille.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with governmental institutions. Organizations of persons with disabilities are always consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. The government gives organizational/logistic support to organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a great extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties and NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, contribute to public awareness and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministere de l'Action Sociale et de la Famille. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries, from organizations of persons with disabilities and from other NGOs. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks. The establishment of the committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, a better dialogue in the disability field, more accurate planning, more effective use of resources and improved promotion of public awareness.

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Contents of the ILSMH Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): WBU, WFD