Government Action on Disability Policy
A Global Survey
Part II - Government Replies as Country Profiles

Madagascar

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Ministry of Social Affairs (18 June 1996)
Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH (Association des Parents et Amis des Jeunes Handicapes Mentaux de Madagascar), ILSMH (Association des Amis et Parents d'Enfants Handicapes Mentaux de Madagascar)

General policy

A disability policy is under the process of elaboration.

Since the adoption of the Rules the Government has conveyed the message of full participation by way of elaborating a national disability policy and integrating questions concerning persons with disabilities in the national programme etc.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special and general legislation. The judicial mechanism available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due procedure (legal remedy through courts), while the non-judicial is a Governmental body (administrative).

The general legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, the rights to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights. General legislation does not apply with respect to access to court-of-law, right to privacy, property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, independent living, and participation in decisions affecting them.

New legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are no laws and regulations ensuring accessibility of the build environment. No measures have been promoted to facilitate accessibility in the build environment. There is no special transport system for persons with disabilities. When planning to build accessible environments the most difficult obstacles are economic/budgetary factors, lack of knowledge, research and information, and lack of user participation. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language is recognized as the official language of deaf people. It is also used as the first language in education of deaf people and recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are Government measures for encouraging media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and other persons: literature in Braille/tape, news magazines on tape/Braille, sign language interpretation available for any purpose, and easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. Legal provisions mandate the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with Governmental institutions. Organizations are always consulted when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations take place at the national, regional and local level. The Government gives financial and organizational/logistic support to existing or new organizations. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in Government, legislature, judicial authorities, political parties but to a great extent in NGOs. The organizations have the role to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, 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 national co-ordinating committee is reporting to "Le Secretariat d' Etat". The committee includes representatives of several Ministries, of organizations of persons with disabilities, of other NGOs. The Government expects the committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes in the disability field, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field and improved promotion of public awareness.

The adoption of the Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy, the issue of disability being integrated in the national programme of the population.

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Contents of the UN Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH (Association des Parents et Amis des Jeunes Handicapes Mentaux de Madagascar), ILSMH (Association des Amis et Parents d'Enfants Handicapes Mentaux de Madagascar)