COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES CONSIDERS INITIAL REPORT OF MOROCCO
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Morocco on its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Presenting the report, Bassima Hakkaoui, Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development of Morocco, said that the Kingdom of Morocco had never ceased in its efforts to seek the promotion and protection of rights, including of persons with disabilities. In the economic, social and cultural spheres, major efforts had been achieved, through a participatory process involving all stakeholders. In 2015, a general integrated policy to promote the rights of persons with disabilities 2016-2026 had been adopted, and it included cross-cutting measures to be implemented by all Government bodies. In July 2017, the Government had adopted the national action plan 2017-2021 to implement the integrated national disability policy through a participatory process and a human rights-based approach. This plan sought more resources for social programmes and to train people in the area of disability. One of the goals was to increase school attendance of children with disability and better labour inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The National Council of Human Rights of Morocco welcomed the fact that on 17 July 2017 an inter-ministerial committee had been established to implement strategies and programmes on the rights of persons with disabilities, as outlined in the national action plan 2017-2021. Despite institutional developments with respect to inclusive education, the Council was concerned about continued numerous difficulties and obstacles that persons with disabilities faced when accessing education, namely in school enrolment, assistant services, and reasonable accommodation. The Council, thus, called for the adoption of a policy on inclusive education that was in favour of all persons with disabilities, without any exclusion based on the type or degree of disability.
In the ensuing discussion, Experts welcomed Morocco’s adoption and improvement of laws relevant to persons with disabilities. However, they reminded that the 2016 Framework Law 97-13 on the rights of persons with disabilities had been broadly criticised by civil society because it was far from guaranteeing the right of persons with disabilities. They voiced great concern about the situation of women and children with disabilities, who faced double discrimination and violence on a regular basis, as well as about the great number of children with disabilities in State institutional care. Due to inaccessibility of the learning environment, especially in rural areas, children with disabilities were left out of the education system, Experts stressed. They also raised questions on the recognition of sign language, monitoring and implementation of the Convention, lack of provisions on inclusive education, no support for independent living, practical effect of accessibility standards, public awareness raising campaigns on disability, inclusion of representatives of disability civil society organizations in decision-making and policy-making, inclusion of disability issues in the national natural disaster management and emergency policies, availability of personal assistants, the situation and abuse of persons with mental disabilities, and guardianship laws and removal of legal capacity.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Hakkaoui expressed gratitude to the Committee Experts for the constructive dialogue. The Government had an integrated policy for persons with disabilities, with laws, programmes and budgets to support them. Nevertheless, the country still had to address many shortcoming and gaps in resources and behaviour. The Government was willing to further work on the recognition of sign language and the legal capacity of persons with disabilities so that they could live well.
Theresia Degener, Committee Chairperson, in closing remarks thanked the delegation for the engagement in the dialogue, expressing hope that the Committee’s concluding observations would help the Government of Morocco improve its implementation of the Convention. She noted that the Government’s commitment to the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities was evident.
The delegation of Morocco included representatives of the Ministry of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development, the Ministry of Justice, and the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee will next meet in public today at 3 p.m. to start considering the initial report of Montenegro (CRPD/C/MNE/1).
Report
The initial report of Morocco can be read here: CRPD/C/MAR/1.
Presentation of the Report
BASSIMA HAKKAOUI, Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development of Morocco, said that the Kingdom of Morocco had never ceased in its efforts to seek the promotion and protection of rights, including of persons with disabilities. In the economic, social and cultural spheres, major efforts had been achieved, through a participatory process involving all stakeholders. In 2015, a general integrated policy to promote the rights of persons with disabilities 2016-2026 had been adopted, and it included cross-cutting measures to be implemented by all Government bodies. In July 2017, the Government had adopted the national action plan 2017-2021 to implement the integrated national disability policy through a participatory process and a human rights-based approach. There was qualitative and quantitative data on shortcomings and weaknesses of the national disability policy. Morocco was launching the implementation of the plan to meet the Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on the issue of disability in different workshops, in order to tackle exclusion in poor areas and combat poverty in general. The plan sought more resources for social programmes and to train people in the area of disability. One of the goals was to increase school attendance of children with disabilities and better labour inclusion of persons with disabilities. Morocco paid particular attention to access and accessibility in order to ensure full inclusion and mobility of children with disabilities. Relevant measures concerned architectural criteria and technical standards which should be implemented during 2017. Together with the World Bank, the Government was working to improve accessibility in four major cities, with respect to public transport and the use of sign language in the media.
The Government had created a series of measures to monitor the implementation of disability policies, as well as a committee to evaluate programmes and strategies for persons with disabilities, and the implementation of the Convention. A national observatory would be established to exchange ideas among relevant stakeholders. In line with the Constitution, the Human Rights Council looked at disability issues from the point of view of law and policy making. The Council could monitor the situation of persons with disabilities very closely and combat their ill-treatment. A strategic vision for education had been adopted, namely the schooling of children with disabilities. A new integrated approach, excluding no one, was sought through relevant policies. Some 49.5 per cent of children with disabilities were schooled. Another challenge was the access of persons with disabilities to the health sector. Morocco had established a series of measures, such as mandatory, universal healthcare for all children. Public authorities were required to carry out an early diagnosis of disability, and to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. The Government had also passed a law to combat discrimination of persons with mental impairments, and called on all health professionals to seek informed consent of persons with mental impairments. That law brought the system more in line with the human rights-based approach.
One of the major concerns in Morocco was the right to employment, and particularly for persons with disabilities. A quota system had been revised, especially in the public sector. The Law on Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities had been passed with practical measures to allow persons with disabilities to be less marginalised. A national committee under the Prime Minister had been created to conduct competitive exams for public servant quotas. However, the employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector remained a challenge. To address that issue, the Government had explicitly banned discrimination of persons with disabilities by employers. The Constitution mentioned the participation of civil society in policy-making. Different associations were helping the Government to develop relevant disability policies. They were also active in all awareness raising campaigns. Great civic participation had been seen in the area of disability. The Government was also providing financial assistance for sports activities for persons with disabilities. The Government would continue to focus on reforming the relevant disability legislation and refocusing social assistance to really target the needs of persons with disabilities. A great deal of individual and institutional expertise would be necessary in that endeavour. Combatting all negative stereotypes about persons with disabilities was still an outstanding challenge in the country. Morocco needed to work on that issue, in line with the Convention provisions, Ms. Hakkaoui concluded.
National Council of Human Rights of Morocco explained that the Council had 13 regional commissions which monitored the protection of human rights in Morocco. The Council welcomed the fact that on 17 July 2017 an inter-ministerial committee had been established to implement strategies and programmes on the rights of persons with disabilities, as outlined in the national action plan 2017-2021. Despite institutional developments with respect to inclusive education, the Commission was concerned about continued numerous difficulties and obstacles that persons with disabilities faced when accessing education, namely in school enrolment, assistant services, and reasonable accommodation. Accordingly, the Council called for the adoption of a policy on inclusive education that was in favour of all persons with disabilities, without any exclusion based on the type or degree of disability. As for employment, the Council called for the cross-cutting integration in the upcoming law of all the measures for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in public and private sector employment.
The Council also drew the Committee’s attention to the double discrimination of women with disabilities, and the fact that their situation was not a Government priority. Families of children with disabilities faced multiple obstacles to realise their rights, and the social protection system did not respond to the needs of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the penitentiary system should take into account the particular situation of detained persons with disabilities, such as accessibility, access to information and communication of their rights in detention, and reasons for detention. The Council regretted that the second national disability survey, published in April 2015, did not consider the situation of persons with disabilities in detention and in social protection. The Moroccan law still did not have adequate provisions on the legal capacity of persons with intellectual disabilities and visual impairment to manage their financial and administrative affairs.
Questions by the Country Rapporteur
DANLAMI UMARU BASHARU, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Morocco, noted Morocco’s adoption and improvement of laws relevant to persons with disabilities. However, Mr. Basharu noted that the 2016 Framework Law 97-13 on the rights of persons with disabilities failed to mention persons with mental disabilities, and to take into consideration that the denial of reasonable accommodation was a form of discrimination based on disability. He was quite concerned about the situation of women and children with disabilities, who faced double discrimination and violence on a regular basis.
One report stated that violence against women with disabilities remained a widespread problem in Morocco based on a 2011 national study which had found that 62.8 per cent of women in Morocco aged 18 to 64 had been victims of one form of violence or another. However, that report did not mention that women with disabilities lacked access to justice, nor did it mention their continued subjection to forced sterilisation.
Mr. Basharu noted that children with disabilities formed the majority of children in institutions that accommodated abandoned children. A UNICEF study stated that 18.5 per cent of abandoned children had disabilities. Not only did children with disabilities constitute the bulk of children in institutions, but only 41.8 per cent of them were enrolled in schools. Due to inaccessibility of the learning environment, especially in rural areas, children with disabilities were left out of the education system. Most of the education provided to them was driven by non-governmental organizations with very little support from the Government.
The Government needed to take immediate and concrete measures to address the grave violence and abuse against women and children with disabilities, and undertake its obligation to uphold the Sustainable Development Goal 5.2 regarding the elimination of violence against women and girls in public and private life, as well as to adopt a national strategy for the deinstitutionalisation of children with disabilities, Mr. Basharu underlined.
Mr. Basharu also highlighted the importance of sign language as an instrument to promote the inclusion and participation of deaf and hard of hearing persons in all aspects of life, including education, employment, political and public life. It was envisaged that the dialogue with the Committee would enable discussion on the main challenges in the recognition of sign language as an official language in the State party and the commitment of the Government to address that situation. Morocco, which championed the adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for blind and visually impaired persons, was dragging its feet in ratifying that treaty.
Mr. Basharu reminded that monitoring and implementation of the Convention was a key obligation of the State party, noting that it was expected that the Government of Morocco would strengthen the capacity of the Council with sufficient budgetary allocations and human resources in order to fulfil its mandate.
Questions by Committee Experts
Experts reminded that the 2016 Framework Law 97-13 on the rights of persons with disabilities had been broadly criticised by civil society because it was far from guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities. It contained come controversial parts, such as the diagnosis and prevention of disability that was not found in the Convention. There were no provisions on inclusive education, but rather encouragement for specialised education, and no support for independent living. To what extent had civil society been consulted in the drafting of that law?
What were the mechanisms set to guarantee the participation of civil society in law making and decision-making? In which way was Morocco empowering civil society working on disability issues in implementing awareness raising campaigns, especially with respect to children and women with disabilities?
How many cases had been prosecuted under the provision of the Criminal Code on disability-based discrimination? What were the outcomes of complaints of persons with disabilities? What was the effect of legal remedies for disability-based discrimination?
Could the delegation provide more information on the legal framework for combatting intersectional and multiple discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities?
As for accessibility, what was the practical effect of the project that the Government of Morocco had launched in cooperation with the World Bank?
How had the State party ensured that persons with intellectual disabilities attended the training on Convention provisions?
To what extent had the State party provided support to persons with disabilities to actively participate in formulating policies that affected their lives? How did it address multiple and intersecting discrimination? In the Accessibility Law of 2014, did it follow any internationally recognized accessibility standards with respect to sanction measures?
Since women with disabilities had not been consulted at all during the drafting of the new framework law on disability, how would the State party remedy that situation?
What were examples of public awareness raising campaigns on disability and how many people had been reached by those campaigns?
Did those who failed to implement the accessibility standards face any consequences? What kind of sanctions were imposed on Government and non-Government entities?
Had there been a national plan on principles to be followed in the media to entrench the principles of the Convention, and were there programmes to achieve that goal?
Were there any cases where judges cited the lack of reasonable accommodation as discrimination against persons with disabilities? In what way was the Convention invoked in courts?
What was the Government’s policy with respect to public procurement in order to promote accessibility?
THERESIA DEGENER, Committee Chairperson, reminded of the confusion of disability issues with those of gender identity and sexual orientation, noting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in Morocco were proclaimed mentally ill.
Replies by the Delegation
BASSIMA HAKKAOUI, Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development of Morocco, stressed that the Government was working to fully include representatives of civil society organizations working on disability issues in decision-making and policy-making. The importance of civil society could not be denied; their participation in public policy-making and drafting of laws was enshrined in the Constitution. The Government ensured their participation at any given opportunity.
The delegation explained that the harmonisation of domestic law with the provisions of the Convention required some definitions to be adapted, namely the definition of a person with disability. The Government had avoided using pejorative terms, and had adopted the concept of discrimination on the grounds of disability. The notion of reasonable accommodation was now connected with disability. The publication of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Morocco’s Official Journal had fulfilled conditions that there was primacy of the Convention over domestic legislation. Moroccan law criminalised discrimination based on disability and provided adequate sanctions for offenders and compensation for victims of such discrimination.
Accessibility was of utmost importance in the promotion of the rights pf persons with disabilities. An important legal arsenal was in place to ensure accessibility standards. All sectors were committed to ensuring accessibility, as part of the over-arching programme with the World Bank. An analysis of accessibility needs had been carried out. Engineers and officials had been trained on accessibility standards. Marrakesh had been chosen to be a model city of accessibility. No construction was undertaken unless there was compliance with accessibility standards. Any infringement of the accessibility standards led to fines and even prison sentences. All international disability standards in air transport had been adopted, and the Government was working to adopt them in railway and road transport.
Morocco granted all its citizens access to education. State schools should facilitate access to children with disabilities and almost 50 per cent of children with disabilities attended school. Morocco was currently going through a reform of the education system. Taking into account the type of disability, there was a national plan for the training of school teachers and inspectors.
With respect to health, the concept of early diagnosis concerned secondary prevention to limit the impact of disability; it was not a pre-natal diagnosis. Persons with mental disabilities received specialised services and any abuse of their rights would be investigated.
BASSIMA HAKKAOUI, Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development of Morocco, confirmed that the double discrimination of women with disabilities was indeed a challenge for the Government, and that there was no adequate research of the situation of women with disabilities. The Family Code stipulated the full enjoyment of rights for women. Parliament had ratified the draft law on parity and combatting all forms of discrimination. That would be a new mechanism to further promote equity and equality for women with disabilities. The Government was going to prepare for the last stage of ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty, which would be completed very soon.
National Council of Human Rights of Morocco stated that it had received 211 complaints, mostly concerning school enrolment and exclusion from school on the basis of disability. As for women with disabilities, their discrimination was exacerbated by the situation of poverty and gender identity.
Second Round of Questions by Committee Experts
What was the State party planning to do to reverse guardianship laws? What work had been done to ensure that persons who had their legal capacity removed could exercise their rights through supported decision-making regimes?
What was the number of children with disabilities living in State institutions and what efforts had been made to find homes for them in the local community?
How was information on natural disasters made available to persons with disabilities? What was the number of sign language interpreters? What were the outcomes of disability training?
What were the possibilities for a person with disability to hire a professional 24-hour personal assistant?
Experts raised concern over the situation of persons with mental disabilities, particularly their abuse. What was the State party doing to allow those persons to exercise their legal capacity? How many persons with mental disabilities were in State institutions?
Had the prison staff been trained on the rights of persons with disabilities?
Since there was no official recognition of sign language in Morocco, in which way was information about major international treaties provided to deaf persons? Were services of sign language provided in court proceedings?
With respect to access to justice, one of the major concerns was receiving legal assistance. Persons with disabilities needed to have legal assistance accorded to them.
What was the current status of the national plan on disaster risk reduction with respect to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all of its aspects? Had any measures been taken to protect persons with disabilities in humanitarian emergencies?
What measures were in place to empower persons with disabilities working in the area of justice? Under what circumstances could forced abortion and sterilisation of persons with disabilities be allowed in Morocco?
THERESIA DEGENER, Committee Chairperson, asked about the State party’s plans to replace guardianship laws for persons with disabilities. Could persons with mental disabilities participate in legal proceedings in their own legal capacity? Were there any plans regarding the prevention of violence against and abuse of women and children with disabilities in families and institutions?
DANLAMI UMARU BASHARU, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Morocco, asked about the number of court cases that had been filed with respect to the inability of persons with mental disabilities to marry. Would the State party facilitate the release of persons with disabilities who were detained?
Replies by the Delegation
The delegation said that the Government of Morocco had been following very closely the discussion with respect to the legal capacity of persons with disabilities under article 12 of the Convention. That issue was accorded great importance by the Government, which worked to safeguard that right. Morocco had accepted the legal capacity of persons with disabilities in accordance with article 12 of the Convention. The national legal system accorded all citizens equal treatment before the law. Persons with disabilities were fully eligible to own their property and competent authorities ensured that they could practice their rights fully and on an equal footing with all other citizens.
The Family Code stipulated that each person that reached maturity could practice all of his or her rights freely. But in order to preserve the rights of that person, it was necessary to prevent persons with intellectual disabilities from being “lost.” Nevertheless, they were accorded full rights under the law. Another central issue was access to justice and legal assistance; any disadvantaged person, regardless of his or her legal, social or health status, had a right to resort to courts and to seek legal assistance. Lawyers had to be present with persons with disabilities from the very start of legal proceedings. For those who did not speak Arabic, appropriate language interpretation was provided.
The delegation clarified that all Moroccans eligible to join the ranks of the judiciary could do so, without any discrimination based on disability. As for the protection of persons with disabilities deprived of their liberty, in July 2017 there were 271 of them in the country. New prison facilities respected accessibility standards. Some of them offered specialised education services, such as vocational training, and prisoners could also access medical examinations.
With respect to the compatibility of Morocco’s Framework Law 97-13 on the rights of persons with disabilities with articles of the Convention, the delegation explained that five regional workshops had taken place to discuss the draft framework law, seeking input from experts and civil society in order to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. It put forth the main approach of the Government and national strategy vision vis-à-vis disability. The Government had responded favourable to recommendations regarding children with disabilities, such as changes in terminology to make them more rights-based and to follow relevant international standards.
To address safeguards for the employment of persons with disabilities, the Government needed to collect relevant statistics and to conduct research on environmental barriers. The research revealed that one in four households had a person with disability. In cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Government had compiled relevant indicators for the design of national disability policies. Budgetary programmes should reflect the national disability strategy and laws.
Following the ratification of the Convention, Morocco had appointed an inter-ministerial committee directly under the Prime Minister to ensure a holistic implementation of the Convention. A new mechanism had been created to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, raise awareness about their rights, and to receive and investigate complaints of persons with disabilities.
As for awareness raising, Morocco supported all associations working with persons with disabilities to raise awareness of their rights. Some 10,000 individuals had benefitted from those efforts. The Government had scheduled activities with the media to monitor and encourage them to incorporate the rights of persons with disabilities. In 2016 the Government had launched a campaign with the World Bank to highlight the right to access as a fundamental right that should be implemented in all sectors. Many events had taken place under that campaign, including the celebration of the 10 years since Morocco had ratified the Convention. New criteria for the use of the Internet had been adopted involving all sectors. The Government was conducting capacity-building work with all relevant stakeholders involved in digital access.
As for natural disasters and emergency situations, Morocco was concerned about strengthening logistical capacities to meet the needs of victims, especially of persons with disabilities. The National Directorate of Public Security ensured prevention and management of crises. It ensured safe access to all buildings. When disasters happened, those authorities immediately engaged in the rescue of persons with disabilities, and ensured that their property could be protected, as well. Morocco had a medical emergency plan, which included a hot line and strengthened medical transport operations.
As for the persons with intellectual disabilities in the Buyar Omar institution, the Government had dismantled it because it was not a medical institution. It should not be considered a place of detention. It was an improvised space to which local people went to worship persons they considered saints, hoping to be cured. There were discussions to build a hospital on that very site. Persons from that dismantled site had been assigned to local hospitals in order to be closer to their families. The current draft bill on persons with intellectual (psychosocial) disabilities drew attention to mental impairments and their treatment, and it aimed to provide them with the appropriate treatment in line with the Convention. It also contained provisions for the training of medical professionals.
BASSIMA HAKKAOUI, Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development of Morocco, stressed that each specialised social care institution had been reviewed, allowing the Government to assess the full scale of shortcomings. As a result, the Government had created a legal mechanism for their reform. It had also established a remote treatment and assistance system for persons with disabilities. Social protection institutions did not separate persons with disabilities from others in social care.
Ms. Hakkaoui underlined that the right to education was guaranteed; no institution could deprive persons with disabilities of their education. They had to provide educational services and appropriate services. The key concept of the Framework Law 97-13 on the rights of persons with disabilities was combatting discrimination. Considerable efforts were being made in Morocco to combat violence against women. The draft law on violence against women encompassed all forms of violence against women, as discussed with civil society. There were special units in all courts for victims of violence against women, and women with disabilities had a priority. A national observatory had been set up to monitor violence against women, and the Government was fighting stereotypes against women with disabilities.
Third Round of Questions by Committee Experts
Experts welcomed the draft law on persons with mental disabilities. What kind of consultation had been carried out with civil society in the drafting of that law, especially with respect to incorporating the perspective of women and girls with disabilities?
Had there been any court sentences for violence against women and girls with disabilities? Information was requested on concrete accessibility to the Internet for blind persons, and were there any plans to train computer programmers in Internet accessibility?
Was sign language interpretation available to university students? What measures had been taken to adapt older university buildings to make them accessible to students with disabilities? What tourist sites were accessible to tourists with disabilities?
To what extent were sports facilities available to persons with disabilities and what was being done to allow them to develop their intellectual and cultural capabilities?
Could all persons with disabilities vote in an accessible format? What kind of sexual and reproductive health services were available to persons with disabilities?
What had been done to improve healthcare outcomes for persons with intellectual disabilities? Did medical professionals have the necessary skills and training to work with children with intellectual disabilities?
Experts reminded that the rate of unemployment among persons with disabilities was very high. Who was eligible for exceptional employment opportunities, which sounded discriminatory? What was the average income of persons with disabilities?
Experts also observed that there was no reference to inclusive education, but rather to supported education. Only 41.8 per cent of children with disabilities were enrolled in schools, whereas the number of integrated classes was too low. The State party continued to rely on civil society to provide education to children with disabilities. What measures had been considered to change that approach? How could the existing special education institutions become more inclusive?
What was the actual situation with respect to depriving a person with disabilities of his or her legal capacity? What kind of health treatment was available for persons with psychosocial disabilities?
Why were there quotas for the employment of persons with disabilities only in companies with more than 25 employees? What was the number of persons with disabilities employed in the public sector? How were persons with disabilities participating in international development projects?
Experts observed that many children with disabilities in Morocco were placed in the special education system and segregated from other children. How would the State party ensure that their needs were assessed?
It seemed that Morocco’s risk disaster model was still based on the vulnerability model. Was there any transition to the Sendai model, where persons were treated both as the recipient and beneficiary of services?
How would the State party work towards the effective implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty? Was there a plan to move towards a more disaggregated data collection on disability?
As for an adequate standard of living, Experts observed that many persons with disabilities in Morocco lived in poverty as social services were inadequate. Were there any specific measures to secure reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities?
Did persons with disabilities participate in Morocco’s political life either through elected or appointed posts? It was encouraging that the National Council of Human Rights monitored the implementation of the Convention. However, there was an impression that persons with disabilities did not themselves take part in that monitoring.
Persons with genetic illnesses did not receive much State support. What measures had been planned to ensure access to healthcare for those persons?
With respect to freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information, what were the plans to introduce pictograms and easy to read signs?
THERESIA DEGENER, Committee Chairperson, noted that there was a need for targeted measures to ensure de facto equality of women and girls with disabilities. Did parents of children with disabilities have recourse to justice in cases when their children were denied education and healthcare? Were there any areas in which the State party identified the need for technical cooperation and international cooperation?
DANLAMI UMARU BASHARU, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Morocco, asked about the measures to adopt a draft law on an independent mechanism for the protection, implementation and monitoring of the Convention.
Replies by the Delegation
BASSIMA HAKKAOUI, Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development of Morocco, noted that much bolder policies had been put in place with respect to education of persons with disabilities.
Education for persons with disabilities was a right, the delegation stressed. Mainstream schools welcomed students with disabilities and some 60,000 students with disabilities attended schools in 2014. Education curricula were adapted depending on the type of disability and depending on identified needs. Special vocational programmes were also available to students with disabilities, whose success rate in finishing school stood at some 68 per cent. Some 59 regional associations worked in the area of education for persons with disabilities and regional directorates offered specialised assistance in schools. There was progress toward integrated education, which went hand in hand with combatting stereotypes, training for teachers and promotion of human rights
The delegation clarified that Moroccan families were increasingly in favour of sending their children with disabilities in mainstream schools, which would favour integrated education. The Ministry of Education had a 15-year plan to support the transition toward integrated education. As for the use of sign language, persons with hearing impairments were able to follow Parliament sessions in sign language, and sign language interpreters were available in the media. The Government had also participated in the plan to standardise sign language across the region of North Africa.
Sport was a guaranteed activity for all citizens in Morocco. High-level sport at university level received increased financial support from the State. Major efforts were underway to promote the sporting activities of persons with disabilities at all levels, starting in primary school.
The right to employment was guaranteed to all citizens of Morocco, in line with the Constitution which prohibited discrimination in labour on any grounds. The Government had endeavoured to apply several reform measures in public service. Ministerial orders stipulated new measures to organise competitive exams for persons with disabilities. The 7 per cent quota of posts for persons with disabilities was enforced. Morocco had also established a contract between the State and the private sector for employment quotas for persons with disabilities. Trade unions sought to promote employment for persons with disabilities, as well as to ensure that they worked in appropriate conditions and had career prospects.
Social protection for persons with disabilities and their living standards was of key importance for the Government. Since 2012, persons with disabilities had benefited from a fund for vulnerable populations and facilitation programmes to combat school drop-out. Since 2015, the beneficiaries of the fund had increased in number. A support system was in place for persons with disabilities without any income.
Morocco had participated in many international development projects, one of them being on improving accessibility for persons with disabilities. The Government had partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and Handicap International, as well as with many international sports organizations.
Concluding Remarks
BASSIMA HAKKAOUI, Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development of Morocco, expressed gratitude to the Committee Experts for the constructive dialogue. The Government had an integrated policy for persons with disabilities, with laws, programmes and budgets to support it. Nevertheless, the country still had to address many shortcoming and gaps in resources and behaviour. The Government held a primary responsibility to respect the rights of persons with disabilities and it was determined to work towards that goal. It was willing to further work on the recognition of sign language and the legal capacity of persons with disabilities, so that they could live well. The Government greatly appreciated the participation of civil society to that end. It was also ready to send to the Committee a full report on all gender specific questions.
THERESIA DEGENER, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for the engagement in the dialogue, expressing hope that the Committee’s concluding observations would help the Government of Morocco improve its implementation of the Convention. She noted that the Government’s commitment to the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities was evident.
For use of the information media; not an official record
CRPD17/015E