Government Action on Disability Policy
A Global Survey
Part II - Government Replies as Country Profiles

Morocco

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Transmitted by Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York (8 March 1996)
Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH

General Policy

The officially recognized disability policy in Morocco is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the Government and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis - in descending scale - is on prevention, rehabilitation, anti-discrimination law, accessibility measures, individual support.

Since the adoption of the Rules the Government has conveyed the message of full participation, through organization of seminars, publication of articles in national journals, launching a CBR-programme etc.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected through a combination of legislation and general legislation. There are no judicial mechanisms to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The non-judicial mechanism available is a Governmental body; "Haut Commissariat Aux Personnes Handicapées".

The 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, right to privacy, property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, employment.

New legislation concerning disability is in the process to be enacted.

Accessibility

There are no laws and regulations to ensure accessibility of the build environment. No measures have been promoted to facilitate accessibility of the build environment. There is a special transport system for persons with disabilities including reduced prices for urban transport. Public transport is available for whatever purpose. The most difficult obstacles when planning to build accessible environments are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors, technical factors, geographical and climatic factors, lack of legislation and regulations. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people is used as the first language in education of deaf people. There are no Government measures for encouraging media and other forms of public information to make their services available for persons with disabilities. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape, sign language interpretation being available only for major events. News magazines on tape/Braille and easy readers for person with mental disabilities are not provided.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization ("Haunt Commissariat aux Personnes Handicapées"). There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with Governmental institutions. Organizations are often consulted when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations take place at the national level. The Government gives financial and organizational/logistic support to existing or new organizations. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in Government, legislature, judicial authorities and to a great extent in NGOs. The organizations have the role to advocate rights, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, and contribute to public awareness.

Co-ordination of work

There is a national co-ordinating committee ("Le Haut Commissariat aux Personnes Handicappées") reporting to the Prime Minister's office. The committee include representatives of the commission of planning, of the CBR-programme and of an interministerial committee. The Government expects the 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 in the disability field, improved legislation and integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field and improved promotion of public awareness.

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