Archive pour November, 2009

My assignment in the Maldives and our direct projects here have come to an end. I am writing on behalf of Handicap International Maldives, and all the people who have worked for us / with us over the past four and a half years. I would like to thank you and your colleagues for all the positive support and collaboration you have given in helping us to achieve our goals of promoting the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities and therefore services for people with disabilities. Without your interest and guidance it would have been an impossible task, but as we could work together, I feel some great things have been achieved. A lot of positive developments have occurred in the field of disability over the past few years.

There is no doubt that the past four years have seen an increase of awareness around disability issues, and a great landmark has been the signing of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We sincerely hope the government continue on the path towards ratification, and that all in the field follow developments here, including the Ministry of Health and Family, the Human Rights Commission, the United Nations who presented the Convention, Care Society, Action on Disability and Development, Maldives Deaf Association and also all individuals, both with and without a disability.

I hope that developments at policy level begin to have an impact at the island level, which is very poorly served in many areas, and especially in the field of disability, one of the biggest difficulties being a lack of information. Through CBR and government service development I hope some of these issues become addressed over the coming months and years.

Well, thank you so much once again and good luck for your future work,

Yours sincerely,

Lucy Roberts

For public distribution Handicap International has produced;

· Newsletters in English and Dhivehi with general disability related news and information.

· Nine positive stories in English and Dhivehi about different people who happen to have a disability. The stories do not focus on this aspect, but look more at the aspirations of the people, and some of the difficulties they face too. The stories are being distributed by the Ministry of Health and Family, and also the Education Development Centre throughout Maldives

· ‘Access for Everyone’ in English – a leaflet looking at physical access and barriers in the Maldives, with design recommendations.

· TV Disability Awareness spots, a set of 2 minute spots which showed different individuals with different disabilities saying what they want in life.

· Film ‘Opening Doors’ – 30 mins, English and Dhivehi version, interviews with a number of people with disabilities and their families from Thinadoo and Hithadoo, and some interviews with people in Male, including the Ministry of Health and Family. The film gives an idea of the current situation for people with disabilities. It will be shown on TV on the 3^rd December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and 10^th December – International Human Rights Day

· Film ‘An Imam’s Story’, English and Dhivehi version – a 6 minute film about Mohamed Juloodh, an Imam from Hithadoo , who is blind, speaking about his life. This is on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcPJePXmQ_8

Contacts for Information;

Projects;

Association on Disability and Development (http://www.addmaldives.org/blog/ )

Hassan Nizam, President, ADD

Mohammed Yasiph, Founder member, ADD

Website: http://yafaau.info/blog/ - About Yasiph’s son, Yafaau, who has cerebral palsy, with lots of useful information.

CBR Project

Shidhatha Shareef, Deputy Director, Care Society

Mobile: 7947244

Hussain Ahmed, Manager, HEEDS Learning Centre, Thinadhoo

Mobile: 7997009

Muhusina Basheer, Manager, AWDI, Hithadhoo

Mobile: 7996436

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – current status

Khadeeja Shabeen, Deputy Director General, Legal Affairs Office, The President’s Office

Tel: 333 6293

Information from the President’s Office on the CRPD: The Cabinet decision to send the CRPD to the Parliament for its approval in accordance with the Constitution was made on the 19th of May. However, we needed some additional documentation such as the Attorney General’s legal opinion and an information brief to be sent to the Parliament, and we received those from the MoHF on the 12th of October. This Office is now in the process of reviewing the documents sent by the MoHF, and will be submitting the CRPD to the Parliament for its approval once the documentation to be sent to the Parliament is finalised. Once the Parliament gives its approval for ratification of the CRPD, this Office would then get it ready for ratification by the President.

Maldives Deaf Association and the Sign Language Dictionary

Amaresh Gopalakrishnan, Advisor to MDA and Special Teacher at Jamaluddin School

Mobile: 7876568

Progress on the Bill and the position ‘Project Officer – Disability’

Mariyaa Ali, Deputy Director, Ministry of Health and Family

Mobile: 7971888

Sports Group

Ibbe, volunteer sports coach Mobile: 7977808

Fareega, volunteer organiser Mobile: 7717758

Survey on ‘Functional Limitations’

Ahmed Khaleel, Deputy Director General, Decision Support Division, Ministry of Health and Family

Mobile: 7787990

Special Educational Needs Units, Positive Stories & ‘Access for Everyone’ leaflet

Ahmed Athif, Education Development Officer, Education Development Centre

Mobile: 7922788

UN / Human Rights Commission Project

Zindu Salih, Assistant Resident representative, UNDP

Tel: 3343291