Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Federation of the Deaf - WFD

Zaire

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997 Association Nationale des Sourds du Zaire, Zaire
No reply was received from the Government of Zaire.

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in guidelines, adopted by the national disability council.

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.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling.

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 which establish national design standards requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, means of public transportation, and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority. The only measure, which has been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment, is the access to public places. There are special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. Special transport is available for medical treatment, education and work but not for recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments are economic/budgetary factors, lack of planning and design capacity. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information services to make their services accessible to 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 and sign language interpretation being available for any purpose.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a 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. The government gives financial support to organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in political parties and NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures, contribute to public awareness, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Social Affairs. The committee includes representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The establishment of the committee has led to better dialogue in the disability field. Its establishment has not led to improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility, more accurate planning, more effective use of resources or to improved promotion of public awareness.

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

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