Regional Workshop on Monitoring the Implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (BMF)
Bangkok, Thailand, 13-15 October 2004

COUNTRY PAPER : REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES

Regional Workshop 
Monitoring the Implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Right-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
13-15 October 2004, Bangkok, Thailand

Prepared by
Ms Fathmath Afiya, Executive Director, Care Society

Review of achievements and shortcomings in the implementation of the BMF at the inception of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012) in the Maldives

Achievements in the implementation of BMF

• A national seminar is planned for 2005 (Government and NGO collaboration)
• More recognition given to educational needs of disabled children - Special units established in three regular schools when education is not compulsory
• Disability is much discussed subject in all national level meetings/forums/seminars
• Willingness at ministerial level to integrate policies by input provided by NGO
• Short term training courses in disability field
• Focal point to promote BMF at local NGO Care Society but requires support locally, regional and international to pressure Government to establish a focal point

Shortcomings in the implementation of BMF

• Lack of a defined policy on disability
• No national policy/Council/focal point to promote BMF at the Government level
• Lack of accessibility regulations
•  Lack of Special Educators in islands & in Male’
• Schools, lack of Professional expertise and lack of funding to initiate programmes
• Very few familiar with BMF. Awareness on BMF only when a Questionnaire on the implementation of BMF by UNESCAP was sent to NGO which was circulated to key ministries.

• The recent establishment ‘Maldivian Human Rights Commission’ lack awareness on the rights of disabled people
• National policies, National Development Plans and procedures discriminates the equal rights mentioned in the Constitution 1998 that all citizens are equal in the eyes of the law
• There is great negligence and discrimination against the provision of basic rights and needs of disabled people
• Stigma and negative attitudes remain the main handicap of disabled people
• Islamic views of charity model that disabled people are provide care, love and other support services with the perspective of medical model continues to be a challenge

New challenges and monitoring mechanisms to assess the progress

Care Society is the only local NGO working towards promoting the Biwako Millennium Framework focusing on the 7 priority areas covered in BMF.

1. Self help organization
2. Women with disabilities
3. Early detection, early intervention and education
4. Training and employment
5. Access to built environments and public transport
6. Access to information and communication
7. Poverty alleviation

This is in line with the United Nations Millennium Goals that promotes the following

1. Eradicate extreme poverty alleviation
2. Achieve universal education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Develop a global partnership for development

Since the inception of Care Society in 1998, the organization has been part of several developments in promoting the BMF. Care Society was is a task force member of the APDF and has participated in several ad hoc meetings since then.

Care Society has lobbied to hold a national level conference to be held in year 2005 and already funds has been allocated for this by the focal ministry on disability related issues, Ministry of Gender, Family Development and Social Security. The ministry has invited Care Society to be collaborative partners in holding the conference and already letters have been exchanged to confirm this matter. As most of these conferences are planned with collaborative efforts by Government in partnership with the civil Society but little participation of the civil society, Care Society has requested the Ministry to form a task force to oversee the planning and implementing the national conference. We have emphasized the need to involve disabled people, families of PWDs and all stakeholders in all parts of the country.

Care Society will be lobbying to promote BMF at the national conference in 2005 with a view to develop a National Disability Council as the one formed in 1995 was disintegrated and disability issues were dealt by the National Council on Welfare matters. As the current council on welfare issues had too many issues to deal with, it’s unable to discuss much of disability related issues and the last meeting held more than 112 years ago. Anyway this Council is very inactive and do not perform its responsibilities neither have regular meetings as such required from these Councils. With these experiences of the National Councils, I believe the Council will be effective only with active participation of the community with proper monitoring mechanism in place. This can be in the form of quarterly meetings of the National Council on disability with the formation of a Steering Committee under the council to oversee to improve and empower disabled people.  The role of the Steering Committee to promote BMF principles to rights based, barrier free environment at policy and community level. The main role of the Steering Committee to develop policies, procedures and accessible environment to promote equality of disabled peoples rights, develop monitoring mechanisms and needs. The Steering Committee should be based where the environment is friendly to disabled people and disability friendly methods to encourage PWDs to be active members to bring changes. The Steering Committee should be based in a different office than the focal ministry and shall act as independent body to promote BMF. In a country with small settlements in the island e.g. 500-1000 population in small proportions, the methodology to outreach disabled people are through CBR concept of inclusive approach which Care Society has trialed in the islands and is a successful programme that can be replicated in other parts of the country.

 The National conference on disability in 2005 will enable the disability activists to develop a National Disability Action plan which will be the mandate of the steering Committee as this will be the first ever such national level meeting on disability in the Maldives.

UNESCAP, WHO, UNICEF in particular needs to work closely to promote BMF in the Maldives. As far as I am concerned we are the only country that is far behind than any other country in the region in recognizing the rights of disabled people. The Committee on the Rights of the CRC (1997) has voiced concerns over the poor services to disabled children and calling for international cooperation to develop capacity building in the field. The situation of disabled people is neglected, appalling and calls immediate attention to create equal opportunities as Maldives has signed CRC, CEDAW, and Equal Opportunities for disabled people. UNESCO has been inactive in the Maldives calling to provide educational opportunities for disabled children and inclusive education is unheard of in the country.

Indicators for monitoring the implementation progress

Monitoring the implementation progress of BMF shall not be difficult in the Maldives with the political will power to challenge the disability area. Indicators for monitoring progress could be carried out by the following relevant agencies

1. Data collected by Ministry of Planning and Development on National Development progress
2. Data collected on prevalence of disabled people by Ministry of Gender, Family Development and Social Security
3. Data collected by NGO
4. Situation analysis by Unicef

If a Steering Committee is established its role would include monitoring the work of the National Development policies, work of NGOs and civil society that the progress has been planned and developed according the principles of BMF. A focal point at the Steering committee needs to be identified to focus on this.

Institutional mechanisms for monitoring the implementation (eg. National Focal Point on Disability, National Council on Disability, National Statistical Office)

At this stage of development of the country when Maldives is moving towards political reforms, it’s very important that APDF play an important role to promote BMF in the Maldives. An institutional mechanism for monitoring the implementation of progress in BMF such as a National Council on Disability and a Steering Committee is essential to evaluate progress and advise the policy makers to include rights of disabled people in all the national programmes and not let the rights be violated as in the past. More effort needed to encourage participation of disabled people in making decisions about their lives, which is not seen at all in Maldives.

Capacity building and technical cooperation (e.g. disability assessment, disability budgeting, project assessment from disability perspective)

As disability has been a relatively neglected area, there are very few professionals in the Maldives. We have only on psychiatrist, two physiotherapists, two pediatricians and only a handful of special educators and specialized professionals where we see there is a great need to build capacity of the disabled people and those working in the field.

Maldives has identified lack of attention given to this area as budget allocation and policy discrimination including negative attitudes. Care Society is a member of the CRC/CEDAW forum in the Human Rights Commission, which has identified reallocation of budgeting to include needs of disabled people.

Other concerns include lack of methods to assess or identify disability. It’s to be noted that in the MGFDSS survey (2003), identified disabled children starts at 1 year whereas most identified disabled children fall into the age groups starting 4 and the most identified cases starting 7-8 yrs when the disability becomes obvious to parents and teachers.

Again project assessment from a disability perspective is very critical to promote BMF which is not done at present. Maldives greatly lacks the expertise and training to focus on the development of national plans which should include the needs of disabled people. Only after a project assessment from a disability perspective we can clearly give the status of disabled people in the Maldives and the improvement areas. Government believes that national development plans are focused to all citizens but obviously do not include the needs of disabled people such as promoted by BMF making Maldives an accessible and barrier free environment.

A rights- based comprehension national policy

Care Society and the Government require assistance from the regional and international cooperation in this regard to develop a comprehensive and specific policy on disability.

Return to top

Copyright (c) 2004 Vision Office.
Last updated 09/28/04. Contact: info @ visionoffice.com