Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Blind Union - WBU

Burkina Faso

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Association Burkinable Pour la Promotion des Aveugles et Malvoyants, Burkina Faso
No reply was received from the Government of the Burkina Faso.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH, WFD

General policy

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

Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has not done anything to convey the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by special legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, is due process (legal remedy through the courts), the non-judicial being a governmental body (administrative).

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to the right to parenthood/family, political rights and the right to privacy. The only benefit guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities is the participation in decisions affecting themselves.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment requiring that public places are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority. 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, geographical and climatic factors and lack of co-operation from other organizations/institutions. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language has no officially recognized status, is not used as the first language in education of deaf people, and is not recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no government measures to encourage media or other forms of public information services to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. No measures are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. Organizations of persons with disabilities are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in legislatures and to some extent in 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, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee or any similar body.

The adoption of the Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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