Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Blind Union - WBU

Somalia

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997 Somali Society of the Blind, Somalia
No reply was received from the Government of Somalia.

General policy

There is no officially recognized disability policy.

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. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through the courts). There are no administrative and other non judicial bodies.

The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care and employment.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. The only measure which has been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment is the providing of specially adapted motor vehicles. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacle, when planning to build accessible environments, is economic/budgetary factors. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language has no officially recognized status, is not used as the first language in education of deaf people, nor recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no government measures to encourage public information services to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. No measures are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization of persons with disabilities. 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 never consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. The government gives financial support to existing or to new 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 mobilize persons with disabilities, and to promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Health. The committee includes representatives of the Ministry of Health and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks. The establishment of the committee has had the following effects: a better dialogue in the disability field, more effective use of resources and improved promotion of public awareness. The establishment of the committee has not led to improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility or to more accurate planning.

The adoption of the Rules has not led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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