Modern Morocco: Constitutionalization of the political, social, economic and cultural rights of people with disabilities
HIBAPRESS-RABAT-MFPS
The issue of disability enjoyed an important place in the Moroccan Constitution of 2011, which notably provides for the prevention of discrimination based on disability, and the constitutionalization of the political, social, economic and cultural rights of people with disabilities. The preamble to the Constitution confirms the Kingdom’s commitment.
“To ban and combat all discrimination against anyone because of sex, color, beliefs, culture, social or regional origin, language, disability or any personal circumstance whatsoever either “. Article 34 stipulates that public authorities are required to develop and implement policies aimed at people and categories with specific needs. It provides for PWD to “rehabilitate and integrate into social and civil life those with physical, sensorimotor and mental disabilities and facilitate their enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized by all”.
By ratifying the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and its optional protocol on April 8, 2009, Morocco confirmed its full commitment to strengthening the process of social participation of people with disabilities. Without forgetting that the government program constitutes momentum in the crystallization of a proactive policy which aims to promote the situation of people with disabilities, as well as their families, and develop forms and mechanisms of intervention and action , notably through the development of a national inclusive development strategy, the updating of the national survey on disability, the publication of Law No. 97.13 relating to the protection and promotion of the rights of people in situations of disability. And the Operationalization of the Support Fund for Social Protection and Social Cohesion (Formerly the Support Fund for Social Cohesion).
In this context, the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and the Family has launched several structuring programs with a view to creating a qualitative development of the approach to the issue of disability in our country.
This is the publication of Law No. 97.13 relating to the protection and promotion of the rights of people with disabilities, in BO No. 6444 dated May 19, 2016, which is made up of several provisions allowing people with disabilities disability situation access to their fundamental rights in the areas of education, teaching, prevention, medical protection, training, professional integration, accessibility and by facilitating their participation in sporting, cultural and recreational activities.
In addition, the Ministry carried out the second national survey on disability which was launched in 2014, which now allows all stakeholders to acquire quantitative and qualitative data on the reality of disability and people with disabilities in Morocco, what is necessary for the development of oriented and effective programs and activities in this area.
The implementation of the action program on accessibility, in cooperation with the World Bank, is considered to be one of the efforts made to have one of the structuring programs. Added to this is the putting into practice of one of the most fundamental rights contained in the International Convention, and which includes projects aimed at the development of the regulatory framework in the field of accessibility, the unification of the standards in force, as well as capacity building of actors and stakeholders in the field.
In order to ensure that poor people with disabilities benefit, at a decentralized level, from technical aids and equipment as well as other services supported by the Support Fund for Social Protection and Social Cohesion (Formerly Social Cohesion Support Fund) 77 COAPH have been set up, these structures report to the provincial delegations of National Mutual Aid.
