Toward Inclusive Social, Economic, and Political Policies for Persons with Disabilities in Mozambique

September 2019

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COVER PICTURE: GONçALO MAbUNdA

Mabunda is a Mozambican artist who through his sculptures shapes metal and deactivated firearms to create artefacts. The artist’s works encourage reflection on the power of transformation and creation of beauty from objects of destruction. Resilience and overcoming challenges are factors present in his artistic practice and in his own life path.

TECHNICAL dATA:

Ownership: WFd - Moçambique Title: Towards Social, Economic and Inclusive Policies for People with disability in Mozambique Authors: dr. Gilbert M. Khadiagala, Professor of International Relations, Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, South Africa. and Jorge R. Manhique, Expert in Human Rights for Disability.Editing and Linguist Review: Delma ComissárioTechnical Coordination: Claive Juízo, Program Officer, WFD Mozambique Design and Layout: Arte de Gema Cover picture: Gonçalo Mabunda Printing: CIEDIMA Printouts: 1.000 copies September 2019 Maputo, Mozambique

The consultation process on political, economic and social inclusion of people with disability in

Mozambique that allowed the design of this report was conducted by a multi-sectoral team that

worked as a task force composed of Genito Dinis Lobua (Parliament), Graciano Langa (Ministry of

Gender, Children and Social Action), Ricardo Moresse (ADEMO), Cantol Pondja (FAMOD), Delton

Muianga (WFD) and Claive Juizo (WFD).

ÍNDICE

ACKNOWLEGMENTS 7

PREFACE I 11

PREFACE II 13

PREFACE III 15

PREFACE IV 19

PREFACE V 21

SUMÁRIO EXECUTIVO 23

INTRODUCTION 29

GLOBAL AND AFRICAN EFFORTS TO EFFECT INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 31

Problems of implementing the Convention on the Rights of People with

disabilities 37

POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN MOZAMBIQUE 41

Legal and policy frameworks 42

Institutional framework 47

BARRIERS AND OBSTACLES TO INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN MOZAMBIQUE 49

Similarities among Northern, Central, and Southern Mozambique 49

Regional variations and differences among persons with disabilities 58

Women and girls with disabilities 63

Persons with albinism 65

Persons with psychosocial disabilities 68

Deaf persons 69

Persons with visual impairment 70

Persons with physical disabilities 71

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 75

5

LIST OF ACRONYM

ADEMO Mozambican Association for People with Disability

AR Assembly of the Republic

AU African Union

CNAS National Council for Social Action

CNDH National Commission of Human Rights

CP4D Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy

CRPD United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

CSOs Civil Society Organizations

DFID Department for International Development of the UK Government

DPOs Disabled People’s Organizations

FAMOD Forum of Association of Person with Disabilities of Mozambique

FRELIMO Front of Liberation of Mozambique

GM Goverment of Mozambique

HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune

deficiency syndrome

ICESCR International Convent on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

IDE Human Development Index (HDI)

INE National Institute of Statistics of Mozambique

INGS International Non-Governmental Organisations

ITCs Information and tecnologies

MGCAS Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Affairs

NGOs Non Govermental Organization

6

OHCHR International Convent on Civil and Political Rights

PES Social Economic Plan

PNAD National Plan for Disability

RENAMO National Resistance Movement

SAFOD Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled

SDGs Sustainable Development Goals

UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights

UEM Eduardo Mondlane University

UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA)

UNO United Nations Organisation

WFD Westminster Foundation for Democracy

7

ACKNOWLEGMENTS

Delton MuiangaRepresentative of Westminster Foundation for

Democracy in Mozambique

The Westminster Foundation for

Democracy (WFD) is a UK public

body dedicated to supporting

the strengthening of democracy in the

world.

The WFD works in more than 30

developing countries, supporting

the development and consolidation

of their democracies and helping

their institutions becoming more

democratic, accountable and inclusive.

The aim and commitment of the WFD

is to enable all individuals to achieve

their socio-economic and political

aspirations independently within a

democratic and rights-centred society.

To this end, the WFD believes that there

is a need for the main stakeholders in

the process of building democracy and

development, including government

institutions, political parties, civil

society, the media, the private sector,

traditional authorities, academia and

society in general, to have a democratic

space that allows them to learn and

openly discuss the obstacles to the

socio-economic, political, inclusive and

sustainable development of society.

As WFD, we believe in collective and

consensual work to find the right

solutions. For this purpose, these

stakeholders should feel part of, and

responsible for the process of building

a socially just and democratic society.

It is therefore based on the assumption

of involvement and not exclusion

from the development process that

the WFD in Mozambique aims to

promote, through its Commonwealth

Partnership for Democracy (CP4D)

programme, an inclusive and

responsible democracy within the

Commonwealth countries. As such,

in September 2018, in partnership

with national actors, WFD launched a

socio-economic and political inclusion

programme for people with disability

in Mozambique. This programme

specifically aims at broadening the

visibility and voices of people with

disability in the public space, supporting

their leadership to drive and influence

public policies for the promotion of

social, economic and political inclusion

8

of people with disability, including an

effective response by the Government

of Mozambique to their national and

international commitments regarding

the rights of people with disability.

In order to achieve this goal and

complement the efforts of the

Government and other national

and international stakeholders, the

WFD has contributed through the

articulation and drafting of the first

national agenda on the socio-economic

and political inclusion of people with

disability in Mozambique. We strongly

believe that this agenda will assist

as a strategic tool to harmonise and

guide the various national actions in

response to greater socio-economic

and political inclusion and respect

for the human rights of people

with disability in the country. In this

context the WFD feels privileged and

honoured to have managed to bring

together the key stakeholders in the

national disability sector, particularly

the Forum of Organisations for People

with Disability, the Association of

People with Disability, the Ministry of

Gender, Children and Social Action

and the Assembly of the Republic of

Mozambique in achieving this objective.

We would also like to commend the

contribution of the international

stakeholders in the disability sector,

especially the United Nations - UNICEF,

UNESCO, and UNFPA - which together

with organizations such as Light for

the World and Humanitarian Inclusion

worked for the promotion and defence

of the social, economic and political

rights of people with disability in

Mozambique. At the regional level,

the programme received technical

assistance from the Centre for Human

Rights of the University of Pretoria in

South Africa, in particular the Disability

Unit, bringing a scientific perspective

to the programme.

It was through this collaboration that

in January 2019 the WFD conducted

a series of high-level consultations

and dialogues about the main

causes of and barriers to the socio-

economic and political inclusion of

people with disability in Mozambique,

which resulted in this document,

entitled Towards the socio-economic

and political inclusion of people

with disability in Mozambique. This

study represents an important and

symbolic milestone to help the country

respond not only to the International

Convention on People with Disability

and commitments made by the

Government at the Global Conference

on Disability in London in 2018, but

also helps the country reconsider how

to respond effectively and fully to the

Sustainable Development Goals, based

on the principle that nobody should be

left behind in the development process.

As such, concrete action should be

9

implemented to eliminate the social,

economic and political barriers for

people with disability identified in this

document.

The WFD is immensely grateful to

the leaders of the above-mentioned

institutions and others who tirelessly

made this process possible and

contributed to the consolidation of

democracy in Mozambique, from

the conception stage, launching

of the programme, conducting of

consultations that culminated in the

validation of this study and the design

of the national agenda for the disability

sector.

Through this process it has been

possible to build a common vision and

to establish priorities and objectives

that have maintained our cohesion

throughout the process. We recognise

that this is not the end, but the

foundations have been laid so that the

country can achieve and experience

democracy, in which the inclusion of all

is fundamental.

We hope that the seed sown will

work as a practical example to

guide subsequent processes, such

as the implementation of the

national agenda. Although the CP4D

programme will end in March 2020, if

it is to be effective, better coordination

of all key stakeholders will be required.

Last but not least, we reiterate the

WFD’s commitment to promote the

social, economic and political rights of

people with disability and invite other

actors to join this cause that belongs to

all and is beneficial to all.

Delton Muianga

PREFACE I

Her ExcellencyCidália Manuel Chaúque Oliveira

Minister of Gender, Children and Social

Action of the Republic of Mozambique

This report, entitled “Towards

social, economic and political

inclusion for people with

disability in Mozambique“ offers a

vision and perspectives on the current

situation and challenges facing the

country regarding the effectiveness of

social, economic and political inclusion

of people with disability, respect and

fulfilment of their rights and is further

evidence that together government,

civil society and cooperation

partners have the capacity to identify

challenges, agree on strategies and,

in an articulated manner, seek safe

pathways for building a more inclusive,

fair and supportive society.

It is the result of a broad consultation

process and consensus-building that

was based on voicing and listening

to the concerns, aspirations and

desires of people with disability in

Mozambique. The report covers

various spheres of life of people with

disability and analyses the institutional

organisation of the State’s response to

the concerns of people with disability,

emphasising the main challenges that

hamper their full socio-economic and

political participation in the country

and showing how such challenges can

be transformed into opportunities for

concerted action by society, to shape

an inclusive society and social justice.

It should be noted that Mozambique

has ratified the International

Convention on the Rights of People

with Disability (ICRPD/ICPDC), thus

indicating its unwavering commitment

to building a society in which all

citizens, regardless of their physical

or mental condition, race, sex, social

condition, religion, political conviction

or other differences, enjoy full rights

and participate, on an equal basis, in

social life in the family and community,

and in the development and progress

of the country.

The country’s commitment to the rights

and freedom of citizens is embodied

in the Constitution of the Republic

and other normative and strategic

planning tools of the country, such as

the Five-Year Government Programme,

the National Plan for Disability, PNAD

II (2013-2019), the Plan for the African

Decade of Disability 2010-2019, the

Action Plan for Assistance to Victims

of Mines and other War Weapons, and

the commitments made at the World

Summit on Disability, held in London

in July 2018.

Recognising that the ratification of

the ICPDC and the adoption of the

various national regulations do not

mean the realisation of rights, and

do not by themselves ensure the

desired socio-economic and political

inclusion of people with disability in

society, the country is committed to

designing strategies and programmes

that are sensitive to the problems of

disability, aiming, on the one hand, to

meet the basic needs of people with

disability and on the other, to promote

their empowerment, respecting their

capacities and skills in order to achieve

their independence and participation

in society.

The Government, together with

organisations of and for people with

disability, reiterates its commitment

to strengthening the legal framework

and concrete initiatives to establish

the rights of people with disability,

to ensure their effective inclusion in

all spheres of life and to invest in the

empowerment and active involvement

of people with disability, their families,

their communities, non-governmental

organisations and cooperation partners,

to build a modern Mozambique, where

the participation and inclusion of all

citizens in the development and in

building progress are a paradigm for

all.

Cidália Manuel Chaúque Oliveira

13

The report that is presented

about the political, social and

economic inclusion of people

with disability is the result of the hard

work that began in 2018, with the

collaboration of the Government of

Mozambique, through the Ministry

of Gender, Children and Social

Action, the Assembly of the Republic,

through the Committee on Gender,

Social Affairs, Technologies and Social

Communication (3rd Committee), civil

society organisations in the area of

disability, partners and consultants.

This coordination was done by

the Westminster Foundation for

Democracy’s (WFD) Mozambican office

in partnership with the Association for

People with Disability (ADEMO) and

Forum of Mozambican Associations

of People with Disability (FAMOD) and

technical advice provided by the Centre

for Human Rights of the University of

Pretoria in South Africa.

This report is aimed at providing the

guidelines for designing a national

agenda on political, social and

economic inclusion of people with

disability in Mozambique.

This work resulted from several

reflections that included workshops

and seminars for regional consultations

(Nampula, Sofala and Maputo),

involving representatives of people

with disability from all over the country

and with the active participation of the

Assembly of the Republic in order to

achieve what the Constitution of the

Republic recommends in Article 125(3):

“the State promotes the creation of the

necessary conditions for the economic

and social integration of citizens with

disability”. Likewise, the Government’s

Five-Year Programme 2015-2019

states that “the Government defines

vulnerable groups and ensures the

provision of social assistance to people

living in poverty and vulnerability”.

From the work carried out, one can

conclude that progress has been

made in the operationalisation of

actions on disability. Nevertheless,

some challenges remain unsolved.

Multi-sectoral action is required

Antónia Simão Paulo CharreChairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs,

Gender, Technology and Media of the Assembly of

the Republic of Mozambique

PREFACE II

14

and all stakeholders have to accept

that social and economic obstacles,

discrimination, denial of rights and

other barriers to people with disability

can only be tackled through a joint

approach.

The partners who have followed our

work on monitoring government

activities were able to witness and

cooperate with us in urging the

Government to establish inclusive

education in schools, as well as care

for people with disability through

the construction of ramps in public

buildings and schools, hospitals, health

facilities and other forms of care such

as the use of sign language. The results

of this work are clearly visible, although

challenges remain.

To conclude, we would like to take

this opportunity to thank ADEMO and

FAMOD, which have worked for the

fulfilment of this dream with a view to

greater political, social and economic

inclusion of people with disability in our

country. Our thanks go to the WFD for

its leadership and facilitation, as well as

to the multi-sectoral team that worked

to complete this study.

Antónia Simão Paulo Charre

15

The UK Government has commi-

tted itself to leading the global

initiative to promote the social,

economic and political inclusion of

people with disability. As such, we are

strongly committed to ensuring that,

as set out in the Sustainable Develop-

ment Goals (SDGs), no one should be

left behind in the development pro-

cess.

We are confident that the issue of

disability is a human rights issue

and above all, part of the process

of consolidating democracy, which

cannot be built in a context in which

part of society is denied the possibility

and opportunity to achieve its socio-

economic and political development.

We believe that it will not be possible to

eradicate poverty and achieve the SGDs

or even the effective implementation

of the United Nations Convention

on People with Disability (UNCPD/

CNPCD) without including people with

disability in all work to establish a more

inclusive and fairer world.

It is estimated that 15% of the world

population lives with some type of

disability and that 80% of this group

lives in developing countries, where the

spectrum of poverty affects the majority

of people, with particular emphasis on

people with disability who are excluded

from the processes of fighting poverty

and from development programmes,

owing to various limitations. This

commitment results specifically

from the recognition of barriers and

challenges that limit or even prevent

people with disability from enjoying,

in equal circumstances, the rights and

freedoms enshrined in the UNCPD/

CNPCD.

We recognise that Mozambique

is making efforts to improve the

framework determining the situation

of people with disability, and on behalf

of the UK Government we commend

the Government of Mozambique for its

efforts to address the issue of disability,

which was reiterated at the London

Global Summit on Disability in July

2018.

NneNne Iwuji-EmeBritish High Commissioner in the

Republic of Mozambique

PREFACE III

We congratulate the Government of

Mozambique on its commitment and

engagement with various national

and international stakeholders that

culminated in the drafting of this

rich document, which assesses

the current status, progress and

challenges affecting the inclusion of

people with disability in Mozambique.

The document was drafted through

consensus building, listening to

the voices of people with disability

and illustrating an approach to

implementing democratic practices for

the design of inclusive public policies.

The voices heard in this study point to

persistence of stigma and discrimina-

tion against people with disability, low

levels of empowerment and barriers to

accessing job opportunities. These fac-

ts support the UK Government’s view

that ‘now is the time to act’.

This is the time for men, women,

children and young people with

disability to participate and benefit

from the inclusive and equitable

development opportunities in society.

We are confident that the recommen-

dations contained in this study will

help the Government of Mozambique

improve the drafting of inclusive public

policies and lead people with disability

to participate actively in the process of

building the development and demo-

cracy of the country.

The UK Government has committed

itself to continuing to work with the

Mozambican Government and its

various partners to achieve a more

inclusive society in which the barriers

and constraints identified in this report

are removed.

The UK Government encourages

the Westminster Foundation for

Democracy to continue consolidating

this platform to enable a range of actors

to reflect collectively and consensually

on public policies and strategies that

can help the country in an inclusive

and sustainable way to speed up the

social, economic and political inclusion

of people with disability.

Likewise, we would like to commend

the hard work of the Forum of

Mozambican Associations of People

with Disability and the Mozambican

Association for people with Disability as

key stakeholders in the implementation

of this initiative, without leaving

aside the active engagement of the

Ministry of Gender, Children and

Social Action in the process, as the

government institution responsible for

implementing the national disability

policy in the country.

We would equally like to thank

the Assembly of the Republic of

Mozambique, which has been part of

the process from the onset to date,

and plays a highly relevant role in

17

the approval of legal tools sensitive

to disability and the promotion of

inclusion, in order to contribute to the

elimination of all forms of stigma and

discrimination in Mozambique.

To conclude, we would like to stress

that all stakeholders that were part

of this process are crucial for the

implementation and supervision of the

national agenda on disability, which

they designed themselves, and we hope

that with the effective implementation

of the national agenda on disability,

to be launched in February 2020, the

Government of Mozambique will be

able to respond better to the challenges

of inclusion of people with disability,

thus responding to both national

and international commitments of

inclusive socio-economic and political

development, including the SDGs,

the UNCPD/CNPCD and the London

Summit Commitments.

Ms. NneNne Iwuji-Eme

18

19

It is not an easy task to comment

on such an eloquent piece of work,

whose content proves to be current

and important nationwide, and autho-

red by experts of recognised merit.

However, I accepted the invitation and

the challenge, because when it comes

to disability issues, I think it is a unique

opportunity to provide my humble

contribution, on the one hand, and on

the other, to draw the attention of the

valued readers to aspects that I think

are relevant in the context of disability in

a country marked by various problems.

I decided to refer to the study, and

confess that I probably committed a

mistake by omission, because, as I said

above, a study of this magnitude should

be commented on by prominent

figures, under the penalty of distorting

its content.

As we can see from the objectives of

the study that will lead to building a

“national agenda on disability” in the

country, nothing could have been be-

tter than the consultation conducted,

involving all people with disability in

their different types and partner orga-

nisations of this sector.

In the country, although the political

and legal environment appears to be

favourable for people with disability,

mainly owing to the ratification of the

UN Convention on the Rights of People

with Disability, the study notes with

concern the absence of administrative

measures for the realisation of the

rights of people with disability, hence

the need for a law on their protection,

together with a national disability plan

and strategy, which would allow for

regular evaluation of the government’s

achievements in this area. In addition,

recent international commitments,

such as those of the London Summit

on Disability held in 2018, should be

implemented.

Speaking of the construction of

a “national agenda and plan on

disability”, one of the challenges that

the study mentions is the lack of a

specific census on the population with

PREFACE IV

Ricardo Moresse Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the

Mozambican Association for People with Disability (ADEMO)

20

disability in Mozambique, since official

data only provides an approximate

number of people with disability, as

can be seen from the 2017 Population

Census, whose picture does not reflect

the reality. This may thus hinder

adequate planning for the disability

sector.

The slogan “nothing about us, without

us” is nothing more than a dead

letter as long as people with disability

continue to live outside the decision-

making centres, on the one hand,

and as long as architectural barriers

and communication and information

technologies that prevent people with

disability from participating effectively

in various spheres of social, economic

and political life, on the other, are not

removed.

However, in order for the issue of inclu-

sion of people with disability to become

a reality, the study recommends joint

efforts among various stakeholders,

such as the Government, the private

sector, and international cooperation

agencies and, above all, the strengthe-

ning of the overall state budget for the

disability sector.

To conclude, as a member of one

of the organisations covered by

the consultation process and the

subsequent validation of this study, I

must say that beyond any doubt, the

work that culminated in this study

brought about visibility never evident

before in the national movement of

people with disability, though the

social, economic and political inclusion

of this group is one of the central

pillars for the realisation of the rights of

people with disability at various levels

in the country.

In this regard, one cannot speak of

a work of such magnitude without

referring to the Westminster

Foundation for Democracy, particularly

the strategic and programmatic

leadership of its office in the country,

which substantiated all the work, given

its invaluable technical and financial

support. Equal recognition is due to the

Government of Mozambique, through

the Ministry of Gender, Children and

Social Action, and the Assembly of the

Republic, whose staff were present at

all the crucial moments of the research,

in addition to encouragement at the

highest level through their respective

leaders.

Ricardo Moresse

21

Organisations of people with

disability in Mozambique, to-

gether with other civil socie-

ty organisations and their cooperation

partners, have for years played an ac-

tive role in the fight for the defence

of the rights of people with disability.

With the increase in the number of

associations of people with disability,

there has been an increase in the sen-

se of self-confidence and ownership of

issues regarding human rights and res-

pect for their inherent dignity, raising

awareness among their families and

society. Overall, there is a need for the

inclusion of people with disabilities, in

accordance with their specific needs,

in social, economic and political life, as

a way of reducing the level of discrimi-

nation, stigma, and the barriers that

prevent their active participation and

promote the violation of their funda-

mental rights.

In 2003, the National Forum of

Organisations for People with Disability

(FAMOD) was officially created, as a

valid interlocutor and one of the main

partners of the Government in advocacy

for several matters, among others

the design of policies, programmes

and strategies of the Government

concerning issues of disability.

As a result of various efforts in the

fight for the cause, Mozambique has

signed and approved various legal

tools to protect the rights of people

with disability, joining the international

efforts in the fight for their cause.

In 2007, Mozambique signed the

International Convention on the Rights

of People with Disability, followed by

its ratification by the Assembly of the

Republic of Mozambique in 2010 and,

in 2012, the Optional Protocol was

submitted to the United Nations, hence

the signing of the Convention on the

Rights of People with Disability in 2012.

As a contribution from civil society

to its implementation, Mozambique

has drafted a report on the level of

implementation of this legal tool in

the period 2010-2012, assessing the

level of implementation. In July 2018,

Mozambique made and deposited,

Cantol Alexandre PondjaChairperson of the National Forum of Organisations

for People with Disability (FAMOD)

PREFACE V

22

at the World Summit in London,

commitments to four pillars (inclusive

education, stigma and discrimination,

economic empowerment, technology

and innovation), as a Government

priority for improving the environment

for inclusion of people with disability

in the social, political and economic

development of the country.

In 2019, FAMOD, in partnership with

the Westminster Foundation for

Democracy (WFD), conducted a

consultation process at national level,

to give a voice to people with disability

about the major concerns, needs and

challenges affecting their political,

economic and social inclusion and

to design a national agenda to be

implemented in the country.

The Government’s involvement in this

process shows some signs of a positive

attitude to changing the previous

paradigms concerning issues related

to disability, despite not being able

to respond to the major problems

that people with disability face and to

implement policies and plans to deal

with disability, ranging from physical

accessibility, education and professional

training, adapted transport, means

of compensation, communication

and information through the use of

technologies, health and rehabilitation

services, among others.

We expect people with disability to be

an active part of all decision-making

processes, side by side with all actors

interested in the cause of disability.

Let us respect and apply the slogan:

Nothing for us, without us!

Cantol Alexandre Pondja

23

SUMÁRIO EXECUTIVO

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) commissioned this

report as part of efforts to influence policies for social, economic, and

political inclusion of persons with disabilities in Mozambique. This project

was undertaken as part of WFD’s Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy-

funded program in Mozambique, which is part of a global program aimed at

advancing inclusive and accountable democracy in the Commonwealth over two

years (2018-2020).

Alongside its key Mozambican partners - the Forum of Mozambican Organiza-

tions of Persons with Disabilities, the Mozambican Association of Persons with

Disabilities, the Parliament of Mozambique, and the Ministry of Gender, Children

and Social Action, WFD started the implementation of this project in 2018.

This report is the culmination of a series of consultations conducted among key

stakeholders in January, February and April 2019 in the North (Nampula), the

Centre (Beira), and the South (Maputo) that assessed the state of inclusion of per-

sons with disabilities. Prior to the regional consultations, WFD invited a number

of stakeholders to an inception workshop in Maputo on January 30, 2019 to help

shape the terms and parameters of the consultations. At the conclusion of the

consultations, WFD organized a consultative stakeholder’s validation workshop

in Maputo on July 30, 2019. Specifically, the main objective of the regional consul-

tation workshops was to inform the development of the national agenda on so-

cio-economic and political inclusion of persons with disabilities in Mozambique.

Toward this end, the workshops examined the achievements reached and the

steps that Mozambique needs to take to meet national and international com-

mitments on disability. In addition to the regional consultations, the consultants

met with government departments, the donor community and civil society orga-

nizations to assess their views on the current state of inclusion of persons with di-

sabilities. This report thus distils these consultations to assess the opportunities,

progress, and obstacles in the way of achieving the goal of political, social and

economic inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The findings

24

from this report will constitute the background for the articulation of a national

agenda for disabled people in Mozambique.

This report had the following terms of reference:

♦ Provide reflections on the situation of inclusion of persons with disabilities

in Mozambique by identifying their needs and key barriers to effective

inclusion;

♦ Assess the existing policy frameworks dealing with persons with

disabilities and identify the gaps in the design and implementation of

these frameworks;

♦ Assess the government’s implementation of international conventions,

notably the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities (CRPD) and the London Commitments of July 2018;

♦ Reflect on issues of intersectionality, including the different experiences

of women, youth, and elderly persons with disabilities and different

categories, such as albinism, psychosocial disabilities, deaf-blindness,

and others; and

♦ On the basis of the analysis and reflections from the consultations, provide

strategic recommendations on how the Mozambican government

can advance the political, social, and economic rights of persons with

disabilities.

The report proceeds from the assumption that Mozambique has taken significant

strides in the articulation of broad policies that seek to promote the inclusion of

persons with disabilities in the political, social and economic domains. Equally

vital, the government has advanced policies that are progressive, although

not fully compliant, with the CRPD, which the government ratified in 2012.

Nonetheless, there are profound and glaring gaps in implementation of these

policies owing largely to limited and scarce resources, the prevalence of cultural

norms that impede effective inclusion of persons with disabilities, and a growing,

but relatively weak environment of disabled people’s organizations (DPOs).

25

The report suggests that frontal policies on inclusion of minority groups, including

disabled people, are critical indicators of the sturdiness of democratic governance,

particularly institutions of accountability, participation, and responsiveness.

At heart, inclusiveness relates to democratic governance because it attests to

the government’s determination to redress structural inequities and the array

of discriminatory policies that prevent the full participation of these groups in

societal and governmental decision-making.

The recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities has been a core part

of Mozambique’s quest for a just, fair, and humane society. This determination

needs to be reinvigorated through renewed national priorities that broaden

the attention paid to persons with disabilities and resources available to them.

Since funding and budgeting reflect both national priorities and political

will, there is an urgent need to refocus attention on the implementation

of legal provisions and policies on disabilities. A new national agenda on

persons with disabilities ought, therefore, to draw from the constitutional

legacies on disabilities, international conventions and commitments,

and suggestions from regional consultations with the core stakeholders.

The report proposes seven priority areas to enhance inclusion of persons with

disabilities in Mozambique:

1 Ratification of the African Disability Protocol and comprehensive review

of the Mozambican legal framework to align with the CRPD and the new

African Protocol;

2 Enactment of a disability rights law, a specific bill of rights for persons with

disabilities in Mozambique, as well as regulation and budgeting for its

implementation;

3 Adoption of the Washington Group short set of questions for data collection,

as well as implementation of specific disability surveys to inform policy and

programs at the national and local levels;

26

27

4 Diversification and an increase in the capacity of DPOs, including at

grassroots level, to monitor government programs;

5 An increase in awareness campaigns to combat stereotypes, prejudices and

harmful practices toward persons with disabilities, including persons with

albinism;

6 Consideration of the establishment of an autonomous entity in charge of

disability within the government, modeled on the experiences of countries

in the region. In addition, consideration must be given to the establishment

of disability desks in all government departments to facilitate the

mainstreaming of disability issues across the government; and

7 The launch of comprehensive, long-term multi-sectoral programs focused

on the consultation, collaboration, participation, and inclusion of persons

with disabilities.

28

29

INTRODUCTION

The global disability movement has been inspired by broad notions of

inclusiveness captured in the maxim: “nothing about us, without us.”1

This conviction emanated from the realization that across the developing

world, in particular disabled people have been systematically excluded from

participation in the formulation and implementation of social, economic, and

political policies that affect them. As corrective measures, the disability movement

has advocated approaches that combine the incorporation of disability and human

rights perspectives in all development programs and the promotion of targeted

programs to empower and include persons with disabilities in government

and society2. These are the key pillars that are covered in the 50 articles of the

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the

fundamental convention on disability rights. The CRPD enjoins states to advance

the social, economic and cultural rights of people with disabilities in areas such

as education, health, minimum wage and social protection, property, and social

dignity.3

Years before Mozambique’s ratification of the CRPD in January 2012, the country

had pioneered progressive measures to promote the inclusiveness of people with

disabilities in its constitution. In addition to enshrining the rights of persons with

disabilities, the constitution makes specific provision for persons with disabilities,

notably the promotion of conditions necessary for their economic and social

integration. In subsequent years, the government’s commitment to disability

rights was emphasized in various policies, such as the National Plan for Disability

(PNAD I, 2006-2010 and PNAD II, 2012-2019) that attempted to introduce innovative

policies concerning public sector employment, political participation, economic

equality, and empowerment of persons with disabilities. To underscore the

1 Neil Crowther, “Nothing without Us or Nothing about Us?” Disability and Society,. 22, 7, December 2007, pp. 791-94.

2 A. Elwan, Poverty and Disability: A Survey of the Literature. Washington DC: The World Bank Social Protection Discussion Paper, 1999; S. Grech, “Disability, Poverty, and Development: Critical Reflections on the Majority World Debate,” Disability and Society, 24, 2009, pp. 771-784 and J. F. Loeb, “Disability and Poverty: A Vicious Circle? Journal of International Development, 12, 2010.

3 United Nations, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol to the Convention. New York: United Nations, 2006.

30

national resolve toward persons with disabilities, the Mozambican government

proposed a new raft of commitments that it presented at the London Summit in

July 2018 as its reaffirmation of adherence to the CRPD.

The report is divided into four sections, including the introduction. The second

section identifies international and African efforts since the mid-2000s to promote

the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly the CRPD, the commitments

made during the July 2018 Global Disability Summit in London, and African

Union (AU) initiatives. This section will conclude with a brief overview of the

obstacles that Africa has faced in implementing commitments to persons with

disabilities. In section three, the focus is on Mozambique’s policy frameworks

and institutional context for inclusion of persons with disabilities. The fourth

section draws largely from the regional consultations to highlight the obstacles

and barriers to the implementation of government commitments and policies.

In addition to being a critical assessment of the existing policies, insights from

these consultations are valuable in lending perspectives on how to improve the

articulation and implementation of inclusive disability policies. The final section

also addresses the recommendations.

31

GLOBAL AND AFRICAN EFFORTS TO EFFECT INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The impetus for campaigns for political and economic inclusion of persons

with disabilities stems from the recognition that globally about 1 billion

people – or around 15 per cent of the population - have some form of disability

and they continue to face abuse, discrimination and stigma.4 Furthermore, while

disabled people are the world’s largest growing minority, they have been less visible

in international advocacy campaigns. Many studies have identified the positive

correlation between disability and poverty; thus, individuals with disabilities

are more likely not to have completed primary education, to have fewer formal

educational qualifications, and to be unemployed. More profoundly, disabilities

intersect with other social categories such as gender, race, religion, age, ethnic

identities, and geographical location; this compounds exclusion and marginality.5

Research has shown that even though in poor countries disabled people may

not always experience different levels of poverty, they are disadvantaged with

respect to access to education, healthcare and participation in local community

activities.6 To redress this situation, there has been a proliferation of movements

seeking to promote the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in

society and to use international instruments to enforce and advance their human

rights. In essence disabled peoples’ organizations (DPOs) and other supportive

civil society organizations have shaped international debates on disability issues

and generated knowledge and information about the extent and nature of the

challenges they face.7

4 World Health Organization and The World Bank World, Report on Disability, 2011.

5 O. Hankivsky, Intersectionality 101. (Vancouver: The Institute for Intersectionality Research and Policy, 2014) and E. Larson and others, “Best Resources on Intersectionality with Emphasis on Low and Middle-Income Countries,” Health Policy and Planning, 31, 2016: 964-69.

6 A. Elwan, Poverty and Disability: A Survey of the Literature. Washington DC: The World Bank Social Protection Discussion Paper, 1999; and J. F. Loeb, “Disability and Poverty: A Vicious Circle? Journal of International Development, 12, 2010.

7 A. S. Kanter, The Development of Disability Rights under International Law: From Charity to Human Rights. Abington: Routledge, 2015.

32

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

The international disability movement has tapped into the global rights-based

norms encapsulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the

International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights of 1966, and

the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966. Despite the

recognition of the centrality of disability rights, these human rights instruments

that comprise the International Bill of Rights did not explicitly list persons with

disabilities among the groups of people to be protected against discrimination.

It was against this backdrop that in 2006, the United Nations adopted the CRPD

and its Optional Protocol. Proceeding from the assumption that existing human

rights frameworks and instruments had failed to improve the living conditions

of persons with disabilities substantially, the CRPD pledged new determination

by governments, DPOs and international institutions to “strive for a legally

binding international convention on the rights of all people with disabilities to

full participation and equality in society.”8 The CRDP’s preamble also notes that:

“a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and

protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities will make a

significant contribution to redressing the profound social disadvantage

of persons with disabilities and promote their participation in the civil,

political, economic, social and cultural spheres with equal opportunities,

in both developing and developed countries.” 9

One of the unique factors in negotiations on the CRPD was the active and

systematic involvement of civil society institutions, especially DPOs, which were

inspired by the motto: “nothing about us, without us.” In addition, the CRPD was

rapidly negotiated over an unprecedented five-year period, demonstrating the

power of collective resolve and action by DPOs and supportive institutions. The

CRPD sought a comprehensive definition of disability to include people “who

have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in

interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation

8 United Nations, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol to the Convention. New York: United Nations, 2006.

9 United Nations, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol to the Convention.

33

in society on an equal basis with others.”10 This definition tried to expand the

notion of persons with disabilities from the medical, charitable, and welfare

approaches to a human-rights centered paradigm of disability that stresses the

interdependent links between civil, cultural, political, and socio-economic rights.

While acknowledging that disabled persons frequently experience multiple or

aggravated forms of discrimination, the CRPD explicitly recognizes women with

disabilities and children with disabilities as two sub-groups disproportionately

affected by discrimination.11

All 50 articles of the CRPD stress the interdependence between social, economic,

and political rights and recognize that inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that

traverses all programs in the search for just and humane livelihoods and

societies.12 Since the enactment of the CRPD in May 2008, the convention has

been hailed as the first extensive and binding international instrument providing

a comprehensive portfolio of disability rights. After it came into effect, the CRPD

also produced multiple international and local movements and institutions

seeking to increase the focus on monitoring the implementation of the CRPD as

part of the global momentum linking development with human rights.13

10 United Nations, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol to the Convention.

11 M. Schulze, Understanding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol to the Convention, Handicap International, 2006; H. Mannan and others, “Core Concepts of Human Rights and Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” ALTER: European Journal of Disability Research, 6, 2012: 159-177.

12 S. Grech, “Disability, Poverty, and Development: Critical Reflections on the Majority World Debate,” Disability and Society, 24, 2009: 771-784; R. Lang and others, “Policy Development: An Analysis of Disability Inclusion in a Selection of African Union Policies,” Development Policy Review, 2018: 1-19.

13 R. Lang and others, “Implementing the United Nations Convention on People with Disabilities: Principles, Implications, Practices, and Limitations,” ALTER: European Journal of Disability Studies, 5, 4, 2011, pp. 206-220; Kayess and P. French, “Out of Darkness into Light? Introducing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” Human Rights Law Review, 8, 1, (2008), pp. 1-34; M. Kett and J.F. Trani, “Disability, Development and the Dawning of a New Convention: A Cause for Optimism? Journal of International Development, 21, 5, (2008), pp. 649-661.

34

The London Global Disability Summit, July 2018

Following the adoption of the CRPD, numerous international institutions,

disability advocacy groups, and donor agencies remained at the forefront of

aligning rights-based approaches to disabilities with issues of inclusive and

sustainable development. With the UN inauguration of the 2030 Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs), there were additional campaigns for countries to

align the implementation of these goals with meeting the objectives of the CRPD.

It was partly to fulfill these objectives that the United Kingdom’s Department

of International Development organized a Global Disability Summit in London

in 2018, ten years after the coming into force of the CRPD. The Global Summit

adopted the Charter for Change, which has ten provisions:

♦ Catalyze political will and leadership to turn the promises into change

that results in implementation.

♦ Promote the leadership and representation of persons with disabilities in

the process of change, including persons of all ages.

♦ Eliminate stigma and discrimination through meaningful legislation and

policies.

♦ Support actions that advance inclusive quality education for persons

with disabilities.

♦ Promote economic empowerment and financial inclusion so that

persons with disabilities can enjoy decent work and achieve financial

independence; these programs should include more and better jobs,

social protection, skills training, hiring and making workplaces accessible

to affected people;

♦ Revolutionize the availability and affordability of appropriate assistive

technology to enable persons with disabilities to contribute fully to

society.

♦ Make all humanitarian action fully inclusive and accessible to persons

with disabilities, including implementing the Charter on ‘Inclusion of

persons with disabilities in the Humanitarian Action’.

♦ Champion the rights of the most under-represented and marginalized

persons with disabilities of all ages under the banner of: “Leave no one

behind and put the furthest behind first.” Gather and use better data

35

and evidence to understand and address the scale, and nature, of

challenges faced by persons with disabilities, notably women and girls

with disabilities.

♦ Resolve to hold ourselves and others to account for the promises made

and periodically review these pledges.14

African efforts to achieve political and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities

African initiatives to forge inclusive policies for disabled persons have revolved

around campaigns to implement the CRPD, in part through the activism of

DPOs and the incorporation of global commitments on persons with disabilities

in the AU and sub-regional instruments on disability. African states embraced

the adoption of the CRPD and its Optional Protocol in part because there was

substantial African input in the working group that negotiated the convention.

During the negotiations, African delegations also lobbied for the inclusion of

language that addresses the protection of persons with disabilities in natural

disasters, armed conflicts, and other humanitarian emergencies, provisions that

were captured in article 11.15

The rapid entry into force of the treaty was enabled by 16 African countries

signing the CRPD on the first day it opened for signature in March 2007 and

more than 30 countries that subsequently ratified the treaty. Many African

countries have also instituted disability laws and embarked on policy measures

to strengthen them. Given the capacity and resource constraints facing many

countries, most of the creative disability rights initiatives in Africa have emanated

from sustained campaigns and pressures of local DPOs.16 Thus key legislation on

some core provisions of the CRPD, such as physical and mental integrity, living in

the community, health, legal recognition and access to justice have arisen from

14 The Global Disability Summit 2018, Charter for Change. London: Global Disability Summit, 2018.

15 J. Lord and M. A. Stein “Prospects and Practices for CRPD Implementation in Africa,” African Disability Rights Yearbook, 2013, p. 111; R. Lang and others, “Policy Development: An Analysis of Disability Inclusion in a Selection of African Union Policies,” Development Policy Review, 2018, pp. 1-21.

16 Lord and Stein “Prospects and Practices for CRPD Implementation in Africa,” African Disability Rights Yearbook, 2013, p. 111.

36

the efforts of DPOs. For instance, the Zambian Federation of Disabled Persons

reviewed provisions pertaining to the legal capacity of people with disabilities

in the new constitution to make them consistent with the CRPD. Similarly, a

coalition of DPOs in Zambia successfully lobbied for inclusive public health

services, including HIV/AIDS education.17

In most West African countries, advocacy by DPOs has led to the repeal of mental

health laws that allow involuntary confinement, detention and forced medical

treatment of persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities. For instance,

in Sierra Leone, DPOs have campaigned to counter the prejudice associated

with epilepsy and access to inexpensive seizure medication.18 In South Africa,

the first landmark case was brought before the South African Equality Court

by a wheelchair-using lawyer because she could not access the courthouse.

Thereafter, South Africa agreed that failure to provide access amounted to

discrimination and promised to render all court buildings accessible.19 However,

advocacy victories without broad measures to promote inclusive economic and

political policies may just be momentary victories in most African countries. For

instance, in February 2011, the University of the Western Cape’s Disability Unit

reported to the South African parliament that since the ratification of the CRPD

in 2007, South Africa had not adequately incorporated the CRPD into its own

legal framework and had not submitted any report to the UN Committee on the

Rights of Persons with Disabilities.20

There have been various initiatives at continental level that reflect Africa’s

determination to address the plight of disabled persons. For instance, the AU

declared 1999-2009 as the African Decade for Persons with Disabilities, an

observance that was extended for a second decade, 2010-2019. Likewise, in 2009,

the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights expanded the mandate

of the focal point on the rights of older persons in Africa to include the rights

of disabled persons. In another initiative, the AU Executive Council unveiled a

17 Lord and Stein “Prospects and Practices for CRPD Implementation in Africa,” p. 102-112.

18 “UNCRPD in West Africa: Where do We Stand?” Declaration of a Workshop on UNCRDP held in Niamey, Niger, April 2013, https://www.cbm.org/UN-CRPD-in-West-Africa-Where-do-we-stand--398816.php.

19 As captured in Lord and Stein, p. 109.

20 Parliamentary Monitoring Group, “South Africa’s Compliance with the UN Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Rights of the Child: Input by Civil Society,” February 23, 2011, https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/12656/; V. Gwangwa, “Disabled People’s Rights Still Violated,” Pretoria News, November 9, 2017 https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/disabled-peoples-rights-still-violated-11928641.

37

continental plan of action in January 2013 that mirrors most of the provisions of

the CRPD and also refers to African contexts.21

The African Commission for Human and People’s Rights has demonstrated

leadership on norms on disability since its first disability case, in which it stated

that despite resource constraints, all states had to take concrete steps to

implement human rights obligations. Another innovative continental initiative

was the addition of a new Protocol to the African Commission on Human and

People’s Rights in 2018 that emphasizes the importance of the rights of people

with disabilities to have equal recognition before the law and provides for a range

of rights, including the right to education, personal liberty, political participation,

the right to live in the community, and the rights of persons with psychosocial

disabilities.22

Problems of implementing the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

Africa, like most developing countries, faces profound challenges of implementation

of the CRPD. This is because, like similar UN human rights conventions, CRPD

implementation occurs in complex circumstances of weak governance and rule

of law, faltering political will, resource and capacity constraints, and the absence

of strong and cohesive DPOs to articulate effective monitoring. The CRPD is a

binding convention, but there are no enforcement mechanisms to guarantee

that states adhere to its provisions, despite sustained pressure from disability

rights advocacy groups globally, regionally and nationally. Thus, although the

CRPD has changed the normative framework of human rights in a fundamental

way, many African countries have only made perfunctory efforts to live up to the

promises of the convention and few have submitted progress reports to the UN

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.23

21 Medical Disability Advocacy Centre (MDAC), “MDAC Written Submission to the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities for the Development of the African Union Continental Disability Strategy (2010-2019); and R. Lang and others, “Policy Development: An Analysis of Disability Inclusion in a Selection of African Union Policies,” Development Policy Review, 2018, pp. 1-21. http://mdac.org/sites/mdac.org/files/2011_08_30__mdac_%20AU_Continental_Disability_Strategy.pdf

22 African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Banjul: The African Commission, June 2018.

23 G. Quinn, “Bringing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Life in Ireland,” British Journal of Learning Difficulties, 37, 4, (2009), pp. 245-249; and V. Hernandez,

38

Throughout Africa, adherence to rights-based norms and practices is challenged

by lack of democratic governance, participation, accountability and the rule of

law. This is especially because effective policies that address the expectations

of the CRPD depend on strong representative institutions that are responsive to

broad societal needs. As some scholars have recognized, “due to the very nature

of their impairments, people with disabilities typically require a much more

complex social, political, economic and institutional set-up to enjoy rights on an

equal basis than their able-bodied counterparts.”24 Building these institutions

within the environment of authoritarian and unresponsive governance becomes

very difficult. Equally vital, effective policies that meet the needs of persons with

disabilities are inconceivable where economic governance is characterized by

corruption, economic mismanagement, cronyism and patronage, systems that

typically starve the social sector of resources to improve livelihoods. For this reason,

therefore, implementing the CRPD requires political and economic governance

underpinned by broad-based participation at national and local levels.25

Problems of political will are inextricably linked to the obstacles concerning

governance, because often in societies with many vulnerable communities, the

channels for voice and demands for political will are not widespread. In Africa, for

instance, the optimism that greeted the ratification of the CRPD soon disappeared

when leaders lost interest in disability issues. As a result, many governments

ratified the CRPD but have yet to establish disability policies or enact legislative

measures that would show resolve and willingness to make a difference.26

Some countries where the leaders have had strong political will still face enormous

problems of administrative capacity to formulate and implement policies on

disabilities.27 Among the administrative obstacles are lack of coordination

“Making Good the Promise of International Law: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Inclusive Education in China and India,” Pacific Rim Law and Policy Journal, 17, 2 (2008), pp. 497-528.

24 . F. Trani and M. Loeb, “Poverty and Disability: A Vicious Cycle? Evidence from Afghanistan and Zambia,” Journal of International Development, 112, 2013.

25 R. Lang and others, “Implementing the United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities: Principles, Implications, Practice, and Limitations,” ALTER; European Journal of Disability Research, 5, 3, 2011, pp. 206-220 have stated this view more forcefully.

26 A. Murangaria and R. Lang, “Barriers to the Inclusion of Disabled People in Disability Policy-Making in Seven African Countries,” in J. K. Kumpuvuori and M. Scheinin, eds. The United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities: A Multi-disciplinary Perspective. Helsinki: The Centre for Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2009,

27 A. Yokohama, “A Comparative Analysis of the Institutional Capacities for Implementing the Disability Policies in East African Countries,” The Association of Medical Doctors in Asia, 23,

39

between different government ministries on disability policies and between

central governments and local authorities. Frequently coordination problems

exist in government agencies despite the constant invocations of disability as a

cross-cutting issue. In addition to the lack of human and financial resources and

organizational capacity, knowledge of disabilities from the human rights optic is

still relatively new and policymakers thus require more training and sensitization.

Crafting legislative frameworks and regulative policies in the absence of informed

knowledge of the concerns and needs of persons with disabilities often leads

to ineffective policies.28 The CRPD has provided an overarching template for

policymakers, but many countries still struggle to translate these objectives into

meaningful national laws and policies.

While most countries have made progress in public sector reforms prescribed by

donors, filling the knowledge gaps for policy implementation about persons with

disabilities remains an ongoing concern. A study in Uganda has, for instance,

shown that there are wide gaps between policy formulation and implementation

in government agencies on disability policies. Following the passage of the

Persons with Disabilities Act in 2006, the ministry responsible for disabilities did

not take subsequent measures for implementation.29 A 2008 study done by the

Southern African Federation on Disabilities on Namibia, Malawi, and Swaziland

found that none of them had any effective administrative infrastructure for the

provision of disability services. Notably, none of these countries had any data at

local government level on the number of children with disabilities who would

benefit from attending and completing primary education in mainstream

schools. They did not have social protection programs for persons with disabilities

either.30

Frontal approaches to dealing with questions of disability are also impeded by

the absence of reliable information that would lead to the implementation of

policies. For instance, budgeting for disabilities by governments is difficult in the

absence of reliable statistical data on the nature of disabilities and the livelihoods

2, 2012, pp. 3-31.

28 P. Mitller, Implementing the United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities: Implementing a Paradigm Shift,” Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 12, 2015, pp. 79-89.

29 A. Yokohama, “A Comparative Analysis of the Institutional Capacities for Implementing the Disability Policies in East African Countries.”

30 R. Lang, Disability Policy Audit in Namibia, Malawi, and Swaziland, Southern African Federation of the Disabled, 2008.

40

of disabled people. Data is even more important because persons with disabilities

are heterogeneous and have distinctive impairments.31 Although the CRPD

and SDGs explicitly call on governments to obtain robust data on persons with

disabilities, data-gathering has remained an impediment in most countries.

Other sets of challenges relate to the organizational and capacity constraints

of DPOs. In the absence of a strong political constituency for persons with

disabilities, resource constraints and competing political and economic priorities

in poor countries result in lack of attention to the CRPD. While DPOs are critical

in galvanizing concerns on disabilities, particularly in monitoring and evaluating

the implementation of CRPD provisions, like policymakers, they need adequate

knowledge and capacity on the policies and procedures pertaining to their work.

In many countries, DPOs face a dual dilemma: marginalized from mainstream

development discourses, they do not have sufficient resources for advocacy

work.32 These constraints reduce their effectiveness as the dependable voices of

persons with disabilities. Redressing these constraints is also magnified by the

competitive environment in which DPOs operate. The multiplication of DPOs

in most instances arises from the diversities that characterize disabled persons,

but without organizational coherence, their impact on policy is severely diluted.

Some studies on Nigeria have, for instance noted that the disunity in the Nigerian

DPOs has had a detrimental effect on their advocacy of the implementation of

the CRPD. Working in isolation and in competition, they have been unable to

marshal the organizational strength to pursue appropriate advocacy strategies

for persons with disabilities.33 DPOs also find it increasingly difficult to leverage

donor funding, a fact that partly hampers their organizational abilities.

31 World Health Organization and the World Bank, World Report on Disability. Geneva, 2011.

32 R. Lang and others, “Implementing the United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities: Principles, Implications, Practice, and Limitations,”

33 C. J. Eleweke, “A Review of the Challenges of Implementing the Goals in African Plan of Action on Disabilities,” Disability and Society, 28, 3, 2013, pp. 313-323; R. Lang and L. Upah, “Disability Scoping Study in Nigeria,” London: Department for International Development, 2008.

41

POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN MOZAMBIQUE

The 2017 general housing and population census noted that the prevalence

of disability in Mozambique is 2.6 per cent (about 2 per cent lower than

the 2007 census). It is estimated that 49 per cent of the total population of

disabled people are women. These figures have been contested by the disability

movement, with many DPOs blaming inadequate methods and questions, as

well as lack of training of personnel involved. The National Statistics Office has

pointed out the lack of funding and qualified human resources to implement the

census. Disability and poverty are intrinsically connected, with studies showing

that disabled people in Mozambique are more disadvantaged economically than

the rest of the population.34

Over the past decade, Mozambique’s average economic growth rate has been

over 7.4 per cent annually, making it one of the fastest growing countries in

Africa. Yet, despite this apparent success, the country is still struggling with

major developmental challenges and remains one of the poorest and most

underdeveloped in the world.35 Although access to basic public services has

generally improved over the last few years, considerable gaps exist in areas such

as health, education, public transport and social protection. This influences

Mozambique’s low score on the Human Development Index (178 out of 187).

Since 2016, Mozambique has faced an economic crisis due to the discovery of a

previously undisclosed $2 billion loan arranged secretly by the government of

President Armando Guebuza. The crisis has led to a sharp increase in the cost of

goods and services, including public services, which has disproportionally affected

marginalized groups, particularly persons with disabilities. The recent crisis

occasioned by cyclones Idai and Kenneth has underscored Mozambique’s social,

34 SINTEF, “Living Conditions among Person with Disability in Mozambique: National Representative Study,” Maputo, 2009.

35 The World Bank, Mozambique Economic Update: Less Poverty but More Inequality. Washington DC: The World Bank, November 2018; African Development Bank, Mozambique’s Economic Outlook. Abidjan: AfDB, 2018.

economic and environmental vulnerabilities.36 Persons with disabilities and other

vulnerable groups face severe hardships in times of humanitarian emergencies.

Legal and policy frameworks

The rights of persons with disabilities are enshrined in the Constitution in articles

37 and 125, which recognize special protection from the family, society, and state

and enumerate a set of rights to be protected and realized by the state. The

Policy for Persons with Disabilities defines disability as “any reduction or loss of

normal capacity for a human being as a result of an impediment.”37 The definition

of disability and the terminology used in the policy and other government

instruments are strongly anchored in the medical model and are out of sync

with the international rights-based approaches of the CRPD. Article 125 (4) of

the Constitution establishes a set of rights in accordance with the constitutional

principle of non-discrimination, including: a) right to independent life; c) right to

rehabilitation and means of compensation; g) right of access to social services,

public places and transport (public and private) as well as to reserved places; h)

right to influence, individually or via representative organizations, the decisions

that affect the life of the person with disabilities; and i) right to information. The

constitution further mandates that the state shall:

♦ Promote the creation of conditions for learning and developing sign

language;

♦ Promote the creation of conditions necessary for the economic and social

integration of the disabled;

♦ Promote, in cooperation with associations of the disabled and with private

entities, a policy that will guarantee the rehabilitation and integration

of the disabled, the creation of appropriate conditions to prevent them

from becoming socially isolated and marginalized, priority treatment of

disabled citizens by public and private services and easy access to public

places; and

36 “IMF Gives Mozambique $118.2 Million Credit to Rebuild after Cyclone Idai,” Allfrica.com, April 18, 2019; “Mozambique Scrambles to Contain Debt Fallout with Voting Looming,” Bloomberg News, April 18, 2019.

37 Politica para a Pessoa Portadora de Deficiência, 1999.

43

♦ Encourage the establishment of associations of the disabled.38

In December 2008, through resolution number 53/2008, the Council of Ministers

approved the regulation of construction and maintenance of technical devices,

circulation and use of systems of services and public places for persons with

physical disabilities or limited mobility. Designated as the Accessibility Decree,

the regulation is a set of standards for the built environment, which is applied to

public buildings and those open to the general public.39 The law only focused

on issues of accessibility for persons with physical disabilities and does not take

into account other types of disabilities. While physical accessibility is somewhat

regulated, accessibility to information and communication technology remains

largely unregulated.

Mozambique ratified the CRPD in 2012, but to date, it has yet to submit the state

report on its implementation. During interviews with human rights officials, they

noted that Mozambique would submit the state report at the end of 2019 because

of the backlog of reporting on other human rights instruments. In 2012, the

government also adopted the National Plan for Disability 2012-2019 (hereinafter

PNAD II) as a follow-up to the PNAD I, which ran from 2006 to 2010 to coincide

with the AU’s Decade of Persons with Disabilities. The underlying principles and

strategies of the PNAD II are aimed at ensuring the effective participation of people

with disabilities in every aspect of contemporary society. The PNAD II adopts

the following areas of intervention: i) vocational training, ii) basic education and

literacy programs for youth and adults; ii) access to employment; iv) social security;

v) HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health; vi) rehabilitation services and

family support; vii) women with disabilities; viii) youth, sport and development of

children; viii) capacity building; ix) policies, and legislation; and xi) assistance of

persons affected by landslides.

Although the PNAD II is a programmatic instrument implemented annually

via the Economic and Social Plan, its evaluation is yet to be done. The PNAD

II has continually faced problems of inadequate budgetary allocation for its

implementation and lack of coordination among different sectors implementing

it. In 2016, the government approved the National Basic Social Security Strategy,

38 E. C. U. Lopes, “Mozambique,” African Disability Rights Yearbook, 1, 2013; http://www.adry.up.ac.za/index.php/2013-1-section-b-country-reports/mozambique and SIDA, Disability Rights in Mozambique, December 2014.

39 Conselho de Ministros, ‘Politica para a Pessoa Portadora de Deficiência’ (Council of Ministries, Policy for Person with Disability) (1999).

44

2016-2024. The strategy, among others, seeks to increase the number of

beneficiaries and the amount of support for these beneficiaries. However, the

strategy fails to provide specific disability-related support, which is essential to

guarantee an equal playing field with those without disabilities.

Apart from disability-specific policies and legislation, there are a number of

general laws that are not conducive to the promotion of the rights of persons

with disabilities and do not conform to international conventions. For instance,

article 30 of the Family Law prohibits persons with psychosocial and intellectual

disabilities from getting married and starting families. Article 11 of the Electoral

Law prevents persons with psychosocial disabilities from voting. These are

examples of widespread legislation in Mozambique that denies the exercise of

legal capacity and discriminates against persons with disabilities. Legal capacity

is often seen as a vital right, as it means persons with disabilities are equally

recognized as persons before the law and, therefore, can act under the law.40

This is the prerequisite for participation.

Unlike many other countries in the region, Mozambique does not have a specific

disability law at the moment. To address this gap, in 2014, the government started

the process of developing the Law on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights

of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter Persons with Disability Act) by establishing

a technical committee to come up with a law that would domesticate the CRPD.

After initial consultation with DPOs that took place in 2014, the process moved

on without much involvement of persons with disabilities. A draft of the Persons

with Disability Act was considered by the cabinet in May 2017, and forwarded

to parliament for approval. DPOs criticized the proposed law because it had a

number of gaps, including:

♦ It lacks comprehensiveness. The proposed law focuses only on a limited

set of rights. This approach contradicts the fundamental principle of

human rights, the indivisibility and interdependence of human rights

that are defined in the CRPD.

♦ It reflects the traditional medical rather than rights-based approach to

disability.

♦ It does not address the issue of intersectionality between disability and

other identities (e.g. women, children, and sexual minorities) and the

40 General Comment No. 1 CRPD Committee <https://daccess-ods.un.org/TMP/9672515.98834991.html>

45

multiple discrimination that people with disabilities face.

♦ Its implementation and monitoring mechanisms are not in line with

Article 33 (1) and (2) (Implementation and Monitoring) of the CRPD.

♦ It does not include specific groups of people with disabilities, such as

people with albinism, with deaf-blindness, and people with psychosocial

and intellectual disabilities. Because of the type of disability and

associated prejudices, these groups are marginalized even within the

mainstream disability movement.

As a result of these shortfalls, the Forum of Mozambican Organizations of Persons

with Disabilities (FAMOD) established a multidisciplinary group composed of

lawyers, judges, activists and persons with disabilities to draft an alternative

proposal and engage with parliament in order to reconcile the differences

between the government’s proposals and those of civil society. Since 2018, the

multidisciplinary group has been working on the proposals, which is supposed

to be submitted to the government for consideration in 2019. Presidential,

parliamentary and provincial elections are scheduled to take place in October

2019 and FRELIMO and the current president, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, are expected

to remain in power. Following the elections, there are expectations that the new

government, which may include new officials, will expedite the Disability Act in

parliament. This means that additional work will need to be done by DPOs to

convince the new officials of the importance of the approval of a comprehensive

Disability Act.

In the lead-up to the Global Disability Summit in London in July 2018, the

government reiterated its determination to strengthen the legislative framework

and national policies on disabilities in terms of six key commitments: a) elimination

of stigma and discrimination; b) inclusive education; c) economic empowerment;

d) technology and innovation; e) data disaggregation; and f) women and girls

with disabilities. These commitments resulted from joint work between the

government and FAMOD and were adopted as a national policy framework. In

relation to the elimination of stigma and discrimination, the government pledged

the following measures:

♦ The approval, regulation, and dissemination of the law on the Promotion

and Protection of Persons with Disabilities by 2020, including defining a

mechanism of free legal and judicial assistance. By this commitment,

46

the government signaled its determination to finalize the proposed law

and to create regulations for its implementation and dissemination;

♦ Ensuring the mobilization and sectoral allocation of at least 5 per cent of

financial resources to meet the specific needs of persons with disabilities

in public sector services such as education, health, transport, social action

and technology. As part of this commitment, the government pledged

to implement and monitor, in a participatory way, sectoral economic and

social plans.

In connection with efforts to achieve inclusive education, the government

pledged to implement the Strategy for Inclusive Education and Childhood

Development effectively, including acquiring the means of compensation, im-

plementing a new curriculum for teacher training and testing the curriculum

for teacher training. Under the rubric of economic empowerment, there was a

commitment to:

♦ Conduct a feasibility study on the creation and operationalization of a

fund for financing disability inclusion initiatives, through contributions

from the private sector. As part of this commitment, the government

sought to define priority areas for intervention, develop a framework for

cooperation to implement the actions, and undertake awareness-raising

and advocacy work that benefit people with disabilities;

♦ By 2019, create and budget for the program for Social Action Services,

drawing on existing methodologies and initiatives with the objective of

ensuring that basic services are close to the communities and adequate

for the needs of people with disabilities;

♦ Guarantee the revision of policies and strategies for access to employment

for people with disabilities;

♦ By 2019, define operational manuals for the implementation of basic

social security programs in light of the National Strategy for Basic Social

Security, 2016-2024, and improve systems and mechanisms for access to

programs to ensure transparency and beneficiary awareness.

47

Relating to the commitments on technology and innovation, the government

pledged to:

♦ Improve the legal framework for inclusive technology via the following

processes: a) ratification of the Treaty of Marrakesh to facilitate access to

publications for people who are blind, visually impaired or who face other

difficulties accessing written text; b) revision of a decree that regulates

public procurement to guarantee acquisition of assistive technology and

devices for people with disabilities; c) an increase in the system of fiscal

incentives and exemption of customs duty in the acquisition of assistive

technology and devices;

♦ Promote initiatives that enable people with disabilities to gain inclusive

access to assistive technology and innovations via inclusive ICT literacy,

ensuring the dissemination and use of the Universal Access Service Fund

from 2019.

On data disaggregation, the government committed to adopt the Washington

Group instrument by 2020 and ensure that a study is undertaken to understand

the situation of people living with disability in Mozambique. Finally, with regard to

women and girls with disabilities, the pledge was to include them in empowerment

programs, including social protection and sexual and reproductive health.41

Institutional framework

The Ministry for Gender, Children, and Social Action has the mandate to promote

the rights of persons with disabilities. In 2015, the government established the

National Council for Social Action (CNAS), an inter-sectoral consultation body with

the objective of promoting the implementation of government social policies and

programs. The establishment of CNAS was strongly opposed by the DPOs out of

fear that these changes would give disability issues less attention compared with

others areas - children and women. Instead, DPOs have advocated the creation

of a specific Disability Council, with autonomy and a fully funded secretariat that

addresses issues of persons with disabilities. An Inter-Ministerial Group on Human

Rights based in the Ministry of Justice is also responsible for coordinating policies

on disabilities. However, although it consists of about seven ministries, it is not

41 http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/commitments/stakeholder/government-mozambique#routes-economic-empowerment-53.

48

a formal body and has no authority to enforce policy compliance. The National

Commission on Human Rights is tasked to promote and monitor human rights.

However, it is yet to be designated as a human rights institution under CRPD

article 33 (2). The Commission is not adequately resourced and has in the past

been affected by a corruption scandal.42 In 2017, the Commission appointed a new

chairperson who seems to be asserting his role in the advocacy of disability rights.

The leadership has shown commitment to working with parliament, government

departments, civil society and international donors in advocating changes in the

legislative landscape of persons with disabilities, particularly identifying specific

legislative provisions that are not aligned with the CRPD.

FAMOD is the umbrella organization established in 1999, which comprises over

20 organizations for persons with disabilities. DPOs’ capacity to hold government

accountable for delivery of services and protection of the rights of persons with

disabilities is in general weak, particularly at provincial and local levels. The

movement is male-dominated by those with physical disabilities and visual

impairments. Although there is an organization of persons with psychosocial

disabilities (Associação de Usuarios de Saude Mental) and an organization of

persons with albinism (Associação Moçambicana de Albinismo), their voices

and those of other marginalized groups such as people with deaf-blindness and

intellectual disabilities are not yet considered in the larger disability movement.

At the moment there is no specific organization of persons with deaf-blindness

or of persons with intellectual disabilities.

42 US State Department, Mozambique 2017 State Report. Washington DC: US State Department, 2018.

49

BARRIERS AND OBSTACLES TO INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN MOZAMBIQUE

As discussões em grupo com pessoas com deficiência durante os

workshops regionais de consultas reflectiram sobre as oportunidades, o

progresso e os obstáculos para alcançar os objectivos de inclusão e em-

poderamento social, económico e político deste grupo.

Group discussions with people with disabilities during the regional consultation

workshops reflected on the opportunities, progress and obstacles in the way

of achieving the objectives of social, economic, and political inclusion and

empowerment. Gauging progress and obstacles was framed around two key

questions: a) what groups of disabled people are mostly discriminated against

in your region? and b) what do you think should be the priorities to advance the

rights of persons with disabilities? Responses to these questions, plus follow-

up interviews with civil society, government, and donor agencies in Maputo,

produced a spectrum of interrelated obstacles that stem from institutional,

socio-cultural, physical, infrastructural and economic factors. This section first

highlights the similarities in perceptions about the obstacles to inclusion across

the three regions and secondly some variations among the regions and within

different groups of persons with disabilities. Overall, there are more similarities

than differences among the stakeholders in all the regions.

Similarities among Northern, Central, and Southern Mozambique

The intersection between disability and poverty in Mozambique is the primary

factor that defines the similarities across the three regions. This is significant,

because poverty pervades the majority of Mozambique’s regions, which are also,

for the most part, rural and without adequate social, economic, and physical

infrastructure. As noted above, while poverty levels have declined somewhat

in recent years, these declines have not been sufficient to make an impact on

overall poverty levels throughout the country. With the exception of urban areas

such as Beira and Maputo, therefore, the northern, central, and southern regions

face tremendous poverty that has impaired and affected efforts to promote the

50

social, economic and political exclusion of persons with disabilities. Similarly, the

links between disability and gender, age and geography are demonstrated by

the fact that throughout the three regions, women, youth and geographically

marginalized communities are poor and disabled. These coincidences strengthen

the popular narrative that the conditions of persons with disabilities reflect and

reinforce the existing socio-economic, cultural, and geographical cleavages.

Cultural stereotypes that variously depict persons with disabilities as outsiders

(‘not part of our people’) are also prevalent throughout the three regions.

Thus the most pertinent information that we obtained from the three regions

was that barriers to inclusion persist because of limited access to economic and

livelihood opportunities, education and skills, and health services. The multiple

social and economic hindrances invariably reinforce the severe obstacles to their

participation in politics and access to justice. Furthermore, while a number of

DPOs have developed, they still lack adequate organizational and resource

capacities, are thinly stretched, and have limited presence outside the major

cities of Maputo and Beira.

On questions about what types of disabilities have been included and which ones

have yet to be included in decision-making processes, there was consensus that

persons with physical disabilities and those with visual impairments are more

often included than persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, deaf

persons, and those with multiple disabilities, who tend to be the most marginalized

groups across all the regions. There was a perception that persons with physical

disabilities and visual impairments are more politically organized and benefit

disproportionately from assistive devices and rehabilitation services. Moreover,

because of their relatively organized structures within the broad disability

movement, the physically and visually impaired tend to receive government

recognition and resources at the expense of the other groups. Government

officials often work with and recognize only those types of disabilities that have

structures in major cities. There was also a widespread view that women, the

elderly, and children are most likely to be excluded in all domains, largely because

of their lack of education and access to social protection, as well as their inability to

participate in politics. There were concerns that the mechanisms of participation

are not gender and age sensitive. On the other hand, there was a perception

that although disabled youth tend to be excluded from most facets of social,

economic, and political life, the more educated disabled youth who have had an

51

education and access to information tend to acquire the dynamism to overcome

the obstacles of exclusion.

Responses to questions on national priorities to advance the rights of persons

with disabilities elicited robust discussions that produced a profile of the barriers

and obstacles affecting them. Discussions of barriers revolved around the bundle

of rights identified in the CRPD, particularly lack of access to inclusive education,

justice, health, employment, social protection and ending discrimination and

stigmatization. One of the issues that respondents highlighted was the importance

of the national approval of the law on the rights of persons with disabilities. The

majority of respondents suggested that as it is negotiated for final approval, this

new national policy needs to be aligned with the CRPD. Pending this approval,

most respondents felt that the government should conduct an audit of existing

laws and policies on disability to assess their efficacy and accomplishments. As

one respondent noted, “There are many documents on persons with disabilities

in Mozambique. The problem is that nobody has done any assessment of the

effectiveness of these policies for almost twenty years.” There was a further

suggestion that alongside the DPOs, the government should embark on

national and local campaigns to publicize all policies relating to disabilities to

raise awareness about them among the wider public. Respondents complained

that the majority of the disabled had no information about the CRPD or the

government’s 2018 commitments to disabilities. In addition, there was support

for publicizing existing legislation on disability among government institutions,

with the proviso that these institutions must be held accountable if they do not

fulfill the obligations specified in the law.

Inclusive education received most attention from respondents. The Ministry of

Education has since 1999 had projects on training teachers in sign languages and

has piloted some projects on inclusive education, but these have been inadequate.

In 2017 the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund supported

a strategy for inclusive education for children with disabilities that would involve

multiple stakeholders, such as families, civil society and universities, but it has yet

to be approved by the ministry. Most of the problems facing inclusive education

center on lack of early family intervention, lack of teacher training and other

support services, the inability of schools to adapt to the concerns of children with

disabilities, lack of meaningful integration of special schools, and the absence of

a favorable environment for children with disabilities in schools. In respect of the

last-mentioned, for instance, there have been many cases of other pupils bullying

children with disabilities. The Ministry of Education has also attempted to engage

with leading universities but there are severe training gaps at these institutions.

As one of the respondents indicated: “Our higher education institutions are not

addressing disability issues. At the leading national university in Maputo, there

is no real academic constituency for persons with disabilities.” Only recently has

the Eduardo Mondlane University introduced Braille courses in its curriculum.

There were several suggestions about broadening education to benefit disabled

people, including:

♦ Draft and approve a new training curriculum for schools, as well as for

teacher training, to ensure that teachers will be able to deal with children

with disabilities.

♦ Ensure the availability of teaching materials that are accessible to all

persons with disabilities.

♦ Ensure the mandatory availability of sign language, Braille, and other

means of communication in all schools.

♦ Ensure implementation of the accessibility decree in new schools and

adjustments in already built schools.

♦ Provide support to poor families with persons/children with disabilities to

enable them to go to school.

♦ Ensure schools have budgets to provide reasonable accommodation

when it is needed.

♦ Ensure training of relevant professionals, among others psychologists,

counsellors, and therapists, to support inclusiveness in schools.

♦ Specifically put in place measures to promote education of women and

girls with disabilities.

♦ Include issues related to the rights of persons with disabilities in

educational curriculums from primary to university levels.

♦ Make mandatory provision for inclusive education from primary to

university level.

♦ Conduct awareness campaigns both in schools and surrounding

communities on the rights and capabilities of persons with disabilities.

♦ Ensure the collection of disaggregated data (type of disability, gender,

53

age) as well as earlier identification of children with disabilities and the

type and level of support they may need.

♦ Make use of special schools as resource centers for regular schools to

address specific disabilities.

♦ Target children with special needs, such as multiple disabilities, rather

than ignoring them.

With regard to health, respondents emphasized the training of health professionals

and other support staff to ensure effective access to health services for persons

with disabilities. There were concerns that there are few people with disabilities

employed in the health sector across the country. In addition, various suggestions

were made about the need to ensure sexual and reproductive health services for

women with disabilities, and the accessibility of HIV/AIDS prevention and related

services to all persons with disabilities.

Respondents devoted significant amounts of time to justice for disabled people,

an area that is critical to the rule of law and broadening of citizenship rights. The

general impression was that Mozambique lags behind most of its neighbors with

regard to the recognition of the judicial rights of persons with disabilities. Several

proposals emerged on methods to guarantee justice, including:

♦ Ensure all children with disabilities are registered and have birth certifi-

cates. These should be supplied at a nominal fee or without charge for

parents who cannot afford them. Mobile registration units should be set

up throughout the country and there should be accessible public cam-

paigns to alert the public to the significance of registration at birth.

♦ Conduct training for magistrates, judges, lawyers, police and other pro-

fessionals in the justice system on disability rights and how they can pro-

mote effective access to justice for persons with disabilities.

♦ Include human rights subjects related to persons with disabilities in the

training curriculum of magistrates and other justice officials.

Questions of political participation and inclusion took center stage in all the

deliberations, in large part because of the view that Mozambique has not done

enough to promote the political rights of disabled people. The impediments to

political participation for people with disabilities range from lack of participation in

national and local decision-making bodies, lack of voting rights and inaccessibility

54

to polling stations to underrepresentation of youth and women with disabilities in

national bodies. A wide range of recommendations were consequently proposed

by respondents, including:

♦ Designate quotas for persons with disabilities in representative bodies at

local and national levels.

♦ Engage political parties to dedicate specific quotas for persons with

disabilities. Political parties should also ensure that they include persons

with disabilities in their manifestos.

♦ Review policies and laws, including the electoral law, to align it with the

CRPD, especially article 29.

♦ Raise awareness among persons with disabilities about their right to vote

and to run for office.

♦ Set up a leadership training program specifically targeting persons with

disabilities so that they can increase their competencies in leadership

and gain confidence to run for public office.

♦ During elections, ensure ballot papers are accessible to persons with

disabilities.

♦ Ensure full access to information for persons with disabilities, by

guaranteeing that information is disseminated in accessible format,

including through sign language, Braille, caption, and other means of

communication.

♦ Review the civil code, the electoral law and related legislation to guarantee

that persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities are allowed to

vote

All the regions unanimously agreed about the centrality of community engagement

in disability rights, because discriminatory practices often start in the family and

the local communities. Because of the prevalence of discriminatory practices,

there was general consensus that confronting disability inclusion should start

in the family and in the home; it was recognized that the family is the first step,

followed by the community. Respondents pointed out that it is common for families

with children with disabilities to hide them from the public, hence preventing

their future integration into society. At the family and community levels, there

is a need for education and capacity-building because frequently the ignorance

and misunderstandings that characterize the treatment of disabled people stem

55

from lack of information. In recognition of the significance of awareness-raising,

the department of social affairs in Nampula province, for instance, has alongside

FAMOD organized community campaigns in areas, such as inclusive education

for children with disabilities, women’s health and vocational training for youth.

In addition to community campaigns, the department conducts programs for

identifying children with disabilities in schools and victims of sexual violence

and their integration into communities, as well as training on disability rights.

The social affairs officer claimed that Nampula conducts a successful program

of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, such as the visually impaired, the

blind, the deaf, and those with psychosocial problems, from which the rest of the

country could learn.

Given the pressures on national resources and the competing priorities, most of

the respondents noted that unless the government allotted annual revenues in

its budget to support various programs on disability, the existing commitments

may not be met. Thus, there were proposals that the government should ensure

appropriate budget allocation for programs targeting persons with disabilities.

Even more vital, some respondents suggested inclusive budgeting for persons

with disabilities to guarantee their full participation in decisions about budge-

ting. Some of the priority areas identified for budget support included accessibi-

lity to public transport, small business training for women with disabilities, avai-

lability and access to assistive devices to all persons with disabilities, expanding

the social protection programs to reach all persons with disabilities and vocatio-

nal training for youth. As the pace of decentralization in Mozambique gathers

momentum, provincial governments will gain prominence in fiscal and budget

issues, thus it will be important to include persons with disabilities in the formu-

lation and implementation of provincial economic and social plans.

All three regions underscored the significance of vocational training for job crea-

tion for persons with disability. This is because the government and international

civil society organizations have launched various vocational training programs

throughout the country that target persons with disabilities. For instance, the

Ministry of Labor has 19 training centers for disabled people around the country

and 25 mobile training units; by 2017, these centers had trained and graduated

381 people all over Mozambique. Similarly, in partnership with an Italian non-go-

vernmental organization (NGO), the Ministry of Labor has three training centers

in Maputo, Beira, and Pemba for disabled people in information and commu-

56

nication technology, cooking, carpentry and sewing. In Beira, the training pro-

gram has led to a consultative forum among government, civil society, and the

private sector that seeks to find employment for the trainees. A similar program

that combines rehabilitation, training and job creation for the disabled is conduc-

ted in Monapo, Nampula province, where the Mozambican Association of Per-

sons with Disabilities (ADEMO) has collaborated with a Swedish NGO to promote

wealth creation at local levels. In another center in Nampula, ADEMO and ADEPO

have established a workshop for producing assistive technologies by and for per-

sons with disabilities. Similarly, the Austrian government conducts multiyear pro-

grams that fund NGOs working on vocational training in the areas of mechanics,

carpentry and masonry for young persons with disabilities in Sofala province. At

national level, the Ministry of Labor has also been engaged in reviewing the exis-

ting labor laws to incorporate persons with disabilities. These efforts have entai-

led the removal of non-discriminatory clauses in the laws to promote inclusion.

Although the DPOs have tried to push quotas in labor laws to broaden inclusion,

the government has been reluctant to countenance quotas. The group discus-

sions proposed more proactive policies on vocational training and job creation

through:

♦ Sustained financial support for vocational training centers across the

country;

♦ Broadening the curriculum of these centers to provide relevant and

marketable skills;

♦ Inclusion of persons with disabilities in national vocational centers and

other training institutes whose objectives are to generate employment;

and

♦ Enhancing coordination among the Ministries of Social Services and

Labor, DPOs, and donor institutions with respect to vocational education.

In all the consultations, questions on the roles of the DPOs featured prominently.

Although there was recognition that DPOs had been instrumental in the

advocacy and policy gains of persons with disabilities, there were concerns that

the government did not sufficiently consult DPOs on either the formulation or

implementation of policies regarding disability matters. Although FAMOD was

actively involved in negotiations on Mozambique’s commitments to the London

disability summit, government engagement of DPOs in decision-making

57

is not strong enough. While DPOs are sometimes invited to major forums,

their participation is perfunctory and cosmetic. In addition, it was recognized

that DPOs faced enormous resource and capacity constraints that need to

be addressed if they have to retain their legitimacy and efficacy. Most of the

respondents indicated that building the capacities of DPOs in the monitoring

and evaluation of programs on disabilities would be a vital contribution to the

governance problems facing them. As a result, several suggestions were made

on to the roles of DPOs, including:

♦ Strengthen coordination among DPOs and their collaboration with

government entities.

♦ Support DPOs to increase the technical competencies needed to carry

out advocacy activities.

♦ Improve DPOs’ fundraising capacity.

♦ DPOs should build bridges with other civil rights movements, advocacy

groups and human rights organizations to share knowledge and promote

mutual learning.

♦ DPOs need to expand their pool of knowledge and expertise on disability

rights to be able to be advocate these rights better.

♦ DPOs need to reach out meaningfully to grassroots organizations.

♦ DPOs need more training in monitoring and evaluation of disability

policies.

♦ DPOs need to be involved in observation missions during elections.

♦ DPOs need to have a seat in the electoral administration bodies.

♦ DPOs need to work with electoral administration bodies and train them

to understand issues of accessibility.

58

Regional variations and differences among persons with disabilities

The major divide in regional terms is between the relatively underdeveloped

and poor north versus the southern regions, which have more resources, better

access to Maputo and more developed infrastructure. The central regions mirror

aspects of both the north and south, with relative affluence interspersed with

high degrees of poverty and underdevelopment.

Infrastructure in some central regions is worse than in the rest of Mozambique

because of the conflict between the FRELIMO government and the National

Resistance Movement (RENAMO) over the past five years, which has prevented

investments in the central province of Sofala. The regional variations in socio-

economic status were captured in the focus groups, where the northern

region was represented by more people who seemed extremely poor, relatively

uneducated, and mostly peasant. On the other hand, participants from Beira

and Maputo were well-educated, articulate in their submissions, and seemed to

come primarily from professional backgrounds.

Among the persons with disabilities, we found that women with disabilities face

distinctive challenges from the rest of the disabled community, just as persons

with albinism confront unique and multiple socio-economic and health problems.

59

Northern regionThe concerns of northern participants mirrored the nature of development in

the region, hence the almost exclusive focus on broadening avenues for inclusive

education, health services and job creation, and managing the scourge of ritual

killing of persons with albinism. An innovative Regional Centre for Inclusive

Education, encompassing the three provinces in the north, was cited as an

example of efforts to address the large numbers of children with disabilities in

the region. It was, however, noted that shortages of materials and equipment

often made the work of the center extremely difficult because it had not been

able to establish satellite schools to enable children to be close to their families.

60

Central regionOutside Beira, the cen-

tral region is largely agri-

cultural and this was

reflected in the con-

cerns about rural de-

velopment, vocational

training and education.

With large numbers of

vulnerable people in the

agricultural sector, the

participants emphasized

the importance of pilot

schemes for agricultu-

ral inclusion. The invol-

vement of the Austrian

government in funding

agricultural programs in

Sofala that target the di-

sabled was another fac-

tor that influenced the

focus participants pla-

ced on improving rural

livelihoods.

61

Southern region The major concerns of participants in

the workshop in Maputo were better

budgeting for the disabled to enhance

their socio-economic inclusion in

society, inclusion of persons with

disabilities in political parties and

political party manifestoes, and access

to government jobs. There was broad

concern that political parties had

never been held accountable toward

persons with disabilities. In addition,

participants reflected on the need for

electoral reforms that would remove

the barriers for some disabled persons

to enable their political participation.

There were also complaints that despite

the 2008 Decree on Accessibility, the

government had done little to provide

access to public buildings, particularly

those that provide essential services.

Civic education for the disabled in order

to broaden their political capacity was a

constant theme raised by participants

from the southern regions. The focus

was furthermore on lack of sufficient

data on persons with disabilities,

with the majority of the participants

challenging the government to

conduct an accurate census of persons

with disabilities in order to have a clear

picture for budgeting and development

intervention purposes.

62

63

Women and girls with disabilities

Most of the group discussions on gender dimensions of exclusion focused

largely on the health consequences of exclusion for women and girls.

In response to the prevalence of violence against women and girls with

disabilities, there was a perception that access to health facilities was inadequate,

hence the proposals for the expansion of access to sexual and reproductive

health services for girls and women with disabilities. Intervention programs by

NGOs and the United Nations Population Fund in the areas of access to sexual

and reproductive health services have made a big difference in some areas and

have helped focus attention on these issues, but most of these interventions are

confined to a few urban areas.

Across the three regions, therefore, participants underscored the plight of

disabled women and recommended ameliorative measures targeting them,

such as legislation against sexual violence against disabled women, access to

maternal health care, increased vocational training for disabled women and

special programs for disabled single mothers with children.

In conversations with leaders of organizations of deaf women, they raised

concern that the discrimination against them starts in families; in most cases,

families with deaf children do not know how to educate them, starting a spiral of

discrimination that contributes to poverty and further marginalization throughout

adulthood. Increasingly, women who are deaf face double discrimination, being

rejected by their families and unable to integrate fully into society. Most of what

these organizations do is to work with families at community level, teaching sign

language and educating parents on how to deal with deafness. Equally, most

deaf women lack essential information on health services, such as breast cancer

screening, HIV/AIDs testing and prevention, and reproductive health in general.

It was noted that if health sector workers are not knowledgeable in sign language,

they cannot communicate with deaf women about their health, leading to their

vulnerability to preventable diseases. In addition, inadequate information has

led to the prevalence of early marriages and early pregnancies in Mozambique

among deaf women.

Apart from the health and social issues, deaf women complained about lack of

access to education that disadvantages them in the labor market. In the absence

64

of conscious efforts to increase the numbers of teachers knowledgeable about

sign language, deaf children who are in regular schools do not learn. As one of

them stated: “Deaf youth are in schools, but they are not getting educated because

the teachers do not understand them.” Furthermore, “vocational training is not

accessible to deaf people because language is the major problem.”

In Maputo, there are only two special schools for the deaf and these are not

accessible to the majority of deaf children in the city. The situation in rural

areas is even worse because of poor educational infrastructure and limited sign

language programs. In conversations with an organization of deaf youth, they

raised similar concerns, noting that “persons with hearing impairments are

discriminated [against] because society accords priority to those who can hear.”

These organizations suggested that:

♦ The ministry of education should set up centers for empowerment of

young deaf women where they can get education before entering formal

schools.

♦ It is necessary to teach sign language before primary school programs.

♦ Sign languages must be taught before Portuguese.

♦ Government should encourage the teaching of sign language in all major

educational institutions, from primary schools to universities.

♦ Expansion of vocational training programs for deaf women is required to

promote their economic inclusion and independence;

♦ It is necessary to have the CRPD in sign language to allow deaf people to

understand their rights.

65

Persons with albinism

A lbinism is a special condition with unique socio-economic, cultural and

health implications. Although persons with albinism are found throughout

the country, the publicized killings of persons with albinism in Nampula

and other northern regions from 2014 generated interest in their plight. Cultural

stereotypes about albinism abound and are largely responsible for the killings in

northern Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. In Nampula and other northern

provinces where ritual killings of persons with albinism are rampant, it has been

suggested that communities and even families are sometimes complicit in these

killings because of traditional beliefs on albinism. Although the government has

launched sensitization campaigns through the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on

Albinism in the northern region, proposals have been made for more systematic

campaigns alongside strengthening of the legislative frameworks at the national

level, as well as security provisions for the protection of people with albinism in local

communities. The current campaigns are largely sporadic and inchoate and only

occur when there is an escalation of attacks on persons with albinism rather than

being part of long-term policies that combine protection, medical assistance and

66

punishment for perpetrators. It was also suggested that the government needs

to engage proactively with the neighboring countries of Malawi and Tanzania,

which are affected by killings of persons with albinism.

In addition to the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Albinism, the justice department

approved an action plan to address issues concerning albinism in 2014, but

the plan had no budget. A stakeholder meeting organized by the Portuguese

embassy in December 2018 tried to craft approaches to dealing with the crisis

facing persons with albinism, particularly concerning advocacy, inclusion

and managing the devastating impact of stigmatization and discrimination.

Together with civil society organizations (CSOs), the human rights division of

the Ministry of Justice has occasionally organized workshops on preventing

attacks against persons with albinism. Apart from efforts to stem the killings, the

more profound problems that affect persons with albinism have to do with the

severe dermatological challenges that require access to medication that can be

67

prohibitively expensive. Most persons with albinism are poor and have no access

to jobs or services. In rural areas where there are no hospitals, they can hardly

access critical medication. There were widespread complaints that even in urban

areas the government needs a program to subsidize medication for persons with

albinism. For instance, concerns were raised about the government’s inability to

permit access to dermatological treatments (sun screen, hats, lipsticks etc) that

help in preventing the effects of exposure to the sun. Free sun screen needs to

be treated as a human rights issue because without it, persons with albinism are

bound to contract skin cancers that will be debilitating to their health. Furthermore,

persons with albinism are prone to visual impairments, hence the urgency of

obtaining access to affordable sunglasses. Although organizations of persons

with albinism have worked with the Ministry of Health to address these concerns,

they cited lack of adequate resources to meet the enormous challenges of a

group that is not always a priority for decision-makers. These organizations have

also worked with the Ministry of Education to ensure that children with albinism

are not discriminated against in schools and other higher learning institutions.

In focus groups with leaders of these organizations, there was acknowledgement

of the achievements in awareness-raising and government efforts to prevent

further killings, but the leaders also emphasized the need for the following::

♦ Expansion of awareness-raising in communities, schools, and colleges

about the conditions of persons with albinism;

♦ Broadened sensitization programs on reducing the killing of persons

with albinism;

♦ The roll-out of free medication in all the provinces to help address albinism;

dermatological services should either be subsidized or designated as

compulsory services;

♦ Efforts by the Ministry of Labor to establish inclusive policies that reduce

discrimination against persons with albinism in the workplace;

♦ Empowerment of DPOs of persons with albinism so that they can reach

out to rural areas where they have limited reach and presence;

♦ National legislation that guarantees the physical protection of persons

with albinism;

♦ Conducting a survey of persons with albinism in all the provinces to

improve intervention policies.

68

Persons with psychosocial disabilities

Like persons with albinism, people with psychosocial and intellectual

disabilities face discrimination and stigmatization that are rooted partly in

cultural practices and lack of knowledge. Once families discover that they

have a family member with these conditions, they isolate him/her from the family

and eventually the community.

In many cases, families take them to traditional healers for medicines that do

not improve their condition. In some extreme cases, people with psychosocial

disabilities are taken to special camps for healing that only compound the

problems.

There is lack of support for persons with psychosocial disabilities in the community

and conventional medicines, which are required to manage the conditions, are

not always available across the country, especially in the rural areas, for people

who are also poor and marginal in their communities. Persons with psychosocial

disabilities feel that for long, their disabilities have been misunderstood by medical

practitioners and that it is time there was a paradigm shift with regard to their

conditions. Cases of “detention” and “confinement” of persons with psychosocial

disabilities are still rife in Mozambique and discriminatory laws against them are

still prevalent. The majority of persons with these disabilities do not go to school

because the support systems are lacking or inadequate.

Recommendations include the need to recognize psychosocial disability clearly

as type of disability and review the civil code to ensure that it recognizes full

legal capacity. Appropriate support needs to be put in place to grant the person

concerned the exercise of full legal capacity. Mental health programs need to

be human rights based and must respect the will and preference of the person.

Persons with psychosocial disabilities are also of the view that there is a need to

regulate and monitor traditional medicine.

69

Deaf persons

The most important concern raised by deaf persons was access to information,

which is related to limited promotion and use of the Mozambican sign

language. Sign language is a fundamental part of the cultural and linguistic

identities of deaf people.

Lack of provision of sign language teaching has affected the ability of deaf people

to enjoy other rights on an equal basis with other people. Reference was made to

the fact that sign language is not used systematically in the provision of services

such education, health and justice, among others. Despite recent progress with

the opening of the first university sign language course by the Universiade

Eduardo Mondlane, and the draft of the Mozambican Sign Language Dictionary,

the deaf community is of the view that more needs to be done. This includes the

legal recognition of Mozambican Sign Language as official language, which would

make its use mandatory. In addition to this, there is a need to draft a mandatory

standard of accessibility of information according to CRPD article 9. This would

imply the review of the Law on the Right to Information and its regulations.

70

Persons with visual impairment

Persons with visual

impairment have

raised the issue of

lack of accessible reading

materials in schools at

all levels of education.

“Books are distributed at

the beginning of the year

for students at primary

level, but no Braille books

are distributed to those

with visual impairment”,

one participant said.

Persons with visual impairment are calling for more investment and budget allo-

cation for this purpose, as well as for the ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty. The

ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty will enable the government of Mozambique

to put in place policies and regulations to ease copyright rules and make existing

resources accessible to persons with visual impairments. This will have conside-

rable benefits for persons with visual impairments, as they will have better access

to education and cultural content.

71

Persons with physical disabilities

Persons with physical disabilities have raised the issue of inaccessibility of

the physical environment as the most critical. This is despite the acceptan-

ce of a progressive accessibility law ten years previously. They also mentio-

ned lack of mobility aids and the fact that these aids are expensive for persons

with disabilities to acquire in the local market. Although the government intro-

duced exemptions in the import of some assistive devices, the bureaucratic mea-

sures to benefit from this are extremely complex and few benefit. “We often get

donations from abroad, but these are often retained by the customs” said one

participant.

72

The few existing rehabilitation centers across the country are not adequately

equipped and often run out of components to repair broken assistive devices.

There is a need to simplify the bureaucracy to effect exemption and to consider

support to poor individuals with disabilities to enable them to acquire assistive

devices. More investment in adequately trained human resources and appropriate

budget allocations for these centers are needed. There is a need to update the list

of assistive devices and make sure that all types of disabilities are covered.

73

74

75

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

The report has found that there is general recognition of the imperative

of social, economic, and political inclusion of persons with disabilities in

Mozambique, underscored in the constitution and various policies.

More recently, Mozambique has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusiveness

through pledges that have time frames and in some respects, budgets. Despite

these policies and commitments, the major obstacles to effective inclusion are

derived from a host of issues, such as lack of effective implementation of these

policies, resource and capacity constraints, ingrained cultural attitudes and lack

of steady and solid constituencies for persons with disabilities.

Equally vital, questions of disabilities are complex and multifaceted: attitudinal,

economic, environmental, cultural, political, and physical hindrances that demand

leadership, conviction, and political will. As a result, policies and commitments

to achieve inclusion have not been matched by adequate implementation and

budgeted plans and monitoring systems across all areas affecting people with

disabilities. Yet the imperative of inclusion cannot be compromised if Mozambique

has to live up to the liberation ethos of a just, humane and equitable society for

all.

This report recommends that the government should work alongside major

stakeholders such as DPOs and other CSOs, the private sector and donors to

articulate a disability-inclusive national agenda based on already existing policies

and commitments and reflections from the regional consultation workshops.

76

This should focus on seven key areas:

1 Ratification of the African Disability Protocol and comprehensive review

of the Mozambican legal framework to align with the CRPD and the new

African Protocol;

2 Enactment of a disability rights law, a specific bill of rights for persons with

disabilities in Mozambique, as well as regulation and budgeting for its

implementation;

3 • AdoptionoftheWashingtonGroup’sshortsetofquestionsfordata

collection, as well as implementation of specific disability surveys to inform

policy and programs at the national and local levels;

4 Diversification of DPOs and an increase their capacity, including at

grassroots level to monitor government programs;

5 An increase in awareness campaigns to combat stereotypes, prejudices and

harmful practices toward persons with disabilities, including persons with

albinism;

6 Consideration of the establishment of an autonomous entity in charge of

disability within the government, modeled on the experiences of countries

in the region. In addition, consideration must be given to the establishment

of disability desks in all government departments to facilitate the

mainstreaming of disability issues across the government; and

7 The launch of comprehensive, long-term multi-sectoral programs focused

on the consultation, collaboration, participation, and inclusion of persons

with disabilities.

77

1 Ratification of the African Disability Protocol and comprehensive review of the Mozambican

legal framework to align with the CRPD and the new African Protocol

The African Disability Protocol is the continental standard for the protection of

the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa.43 The protocol “contains many of

the rights which are found in the CRPD but frames them in a way that reflects

the African experience and context.”44 The African Disability Protocol also

contains rights that are not explicitly expressed in the CRPD, such as the right

to self-representation and the rights of older persons with disabilities.45 The

Mozambican parliament must consider ratifying the African Disability Protocol

because given its continental context, it has the potential to relate better with

decision-makers and to provide further guidance on the implementation of the

CRPD in Mozambique.

2 Enactment of a disability rights law

As outlined above, despite ratification of the CRPD in 2012, a number of

laws are yet to be reviewed to align with its principles and articles and the African

Protocol. As such, the need to conduct a comprehensive review of the legal

framework to identify gaps in existing legislation and areas that need additional

laws must be considered. After identification of these gaps, the government

should work with parliament and DPOs to address the gaps by amending existing

legislation and enacting new legislation aligned with the CRPD and the African

Protocol.

Parliament must urgently enact a disability rights law, a specific bill of rights for

43 Article 66 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (the Charter) allows state parties to the Charter to enter into protocols or agreements to supplement the provisions of the Charter where necessary. The African Disability Protocol is one such supplementary protocol. The African Disability Protocol was adopted by the thirtieth ordinary session of the assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 29, 2018.

44 Human Rights First Rwanda Association, National Organization of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry in Rwanda “Assessment of the Equal Recognition before the Law for Persons with Psychosocial disabilities in Rwanda” (2018), https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/1449559.html.

45 Idem.

78

persons with disabilities in Mozambique, as well as regulation and budgeting for its

implementation. To ensure that the process of amendment of existing legislation

and enactment of new legislation reflects the principles and articles of the CRPD

and the African Protocol, it must be considered to train stakeholders involved

- parliament, government, DPOs, the National Human Rights Commission - to

understand the transformative nature of the convention and the paradigm shift

embedded in it. Once approved, the government must popularize the new laws

among DPOs, government officials and society. Appropriate budget allocation

must be done across different areas, to ensure the new laws and regulations are

actually implemented and enforced. The envisaged law needs to be tailored to

specific disabilities, taking cognizance of diversities among disabled persons.

3 Adoption of the Washington Group short set of questions for data collection in key critical

sectors, as well as implementation of specific disability surveys to inform policy and programs at national and local levels

The 2017 Housing and Population Census failed to produce disaggregated and

comparable data on disability. Moving forward, the government should work

with UN agencies and the donor community to mobilize resources to conduct a

national survey of the state of disability.

The survey should adopt and use the Washington Group’s short set of questions

on disability. The personnel involved must be adequately trained on how to use

these questions. Equally, the government must ensure that data being collected

across different sectors includes data on disability.

It must be considered to pilot the use of the Washington Group short set of

question in priority areas: education, health and justice. In our interviews with the

national statistics office, we found out that there were no resources for disability

surveys, hence it would be important for the government to devote a specific

budget to these surveys to obtain accurate data on persons with disabilities that

will inform planning. In the forthcoming surveys on poverty, budget, and the

SDGs, inclusion of questions on disability is going to be an important start in the

data inclusion campaigns.

79

4 Diversification and an increase in the capacity of DPOs, including at grassroots

level, to monitor government programs

As mentioned above, the disability movement in Mozambique is male-dominated

by those with physical disabilities and visual impairments. Voices of marginalized

groups such as those with albinism, deaf-blindness, psychosocial and intellectual

disabilities are not yet considered in the larger disability movement. Existing DPOs

lack the necessary human rights and advocacy skills and have limited financial

and human resources to perform their work. DPO leaders have low academic

qualifications, with few of them having university education.

As such, it must be considered to increase the capacity of DPOs, including

grassroots organizations, to understand their rights and be able to be effective

advocates to monitor government programs and the implementation of relevant

laws. While a few groups - persons with albinism and psychosocial disabilities – are

starting to emerge, there is a need to mobilize groups that are not yet organized,

such as persons with deaf-blindness. Particular attention must be paid to women

with disabilities and youth groups, as they are currently underrepresented in the

movement.

The donor community, UN agencies and the government have roles to play in

this process. As the umbrella organization, FAMOD has a critical role to play in

mobilizing groups that are not yet organized and in providing mentorship. These

interventions would accomplish three objectives. First, they would expand the

pool of DPOs and increase diversity within the movement. Second, they would

reduce the current centralization of power and resources in a few Maputo-based

DPOs. Third, they would strengthen the capacity of provincial and local level DPOs

in advocacy and monitoring disability rights, which is particularly important, as

Mozambique is increasingly decentralizing services to provincial and municipal

levels.

80

5 An increase in awareness campaigns to combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful

practices toward persons with disabilities, including persons with albinism

Lack of awareness on disability within society has repeatedly been mentioned

during the consultation meetings. Current efforts to raise awareness are NGO

and DPO initiatives and little is done by the government. The development of

a national awareness-raising program on the rights of persons with disabilities,

involving persons with disabilities, needs to be considered.

The national awareness program must involve key stakeholders such as media

and traditional and community leaders. The government must pay particular

attention to the scourge of ritual killings of persons with albinism in northern

Mozambique.

More organized campaigns led by the government, civil society, and traditional

leaders in affected areas would be critical in effecting attitudinal and cultural

change and assisting the already existing government programs to end the

stigma and discrimination against persons with albinism.

6 Consideration of the establishment of an autonomous entity in charge of disability

within the government, modeled on experiences of countries in the region Issues of dysfunctionality and lack of coordination of existing institutions were

mentioned consistently during the consultative meetings, among others in the

validation workshop, as key areas of action going forward. Even if changes are

secured in terms of legal reform, if there are no adequate structures to implement

and enforce the new laws, socio-economic and political inclusion of persons with

disabilities will remain unmet. This means that discussions on policy and law

reform must go hand in hand with reflection on the most adequate institutional

arrangements to implement the new laws and policies. The reflection should

revolve around the search for the most effective institutional arrangements to

guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities in Mozambique. Part of this

81

discussion should reflect on the role of the CNAS and the idea put forward during

the validation workshop, to establish the position of a disability mainstreaming

officer in every ministry to support efforts to mainstream disability across all

sectors.

7 Comprehensive, multi-sectoral programs for the participation and inclusion of persons

with disabilitiesPersons with disabilities live alongside other poor, needy and disadvantaged

groups. This, therefore, necessitates comprehensive and multi-sectoral programs

that ensure the participation and inclusion of both those who are directly affected

and others in their socio-economic environments and vicinities. Programs that

encourage citizenship through participation and reduce poverty, inequalities

and marginalization across the board are critical in the comprehensive inclusion

of persons with disabilities, but also contribute to meeting shortfalls in inclusion

and participation that affect all members of society. For this reason, multi-sectoral

programs that expand the participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities

depend on elaborate national programs that address the concerns of all.

ANNEXESList of participants in the consultation

process on political, social and economic inclusion of people with

disability in Mozambique

84

1. Workshop on the Presentation and Validation of the Study on Political, Social and Economic Inclusion of People with Disability, and Drafting the “National Agenda” for the Area of Disability in Mozambique

This workshop was held on 30 and 31 July 2019, in Maputo city.

The objective of the workshop was to bring together national and international

strategic actors who work on promoting the political, social and economic

inclusion of people with disability in Mozambique or are interested in this, to

collectively analyse the results and validate the study. Furthermore, it was to give

strategic stakeholders the opportunity to collectively discuss and define the main

priority areas to design the national agenda on disability in Mozambique.

Agueda Nhantumbo United Nations Fund for the Population Maputo

Aguinaldo Namburete British Council, Mozambique Maputo

Alberto Balate National Human Rights Committee of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Albino Duvane Forum of Mozambican Associations for People with Disability (FAMOD) Maputo

Alves Manhiça Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Mozambique Maputo

Ana Massingue Municipal Council of Maputo City Maputo

Ancha Ussene Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Her Excellence Antónia Charre

Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Technology and Communication of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Antónia Piri-piri FAMOD Sofala

António Adriano National Institute of Statistics (INE), Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Asami Suzuki FAMOD Maputo

Benildo Francisco Maputo City Council Maputo

Bernadete Castiano FAMOD Maputo

Bernardo Bembele TV Sucesso Maputo

Bilade Karin Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Cantol Pondja FAMOD Maputo

Carlos Quembo Association for Fighting Poverty and Helping People with Disability Maputo

Carlos Shenga Centre for Governance and Development Research (CPGD) Maputo

S. Excia. Carlota Mathaie Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Celra Muluane Joaquim Chissano University Maputo

85

Cesaltina Artur Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Republic of Mozambique Sofala

Claive Juizo WFD, Mozambique Maputo

Damien Hazard United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Sofala

Delton Muianga WFD, Mozambique Maputo

Egna Sidumo Joaquim Chissano University Maputo

Elisa Dabula Televisão de Moçambique Maputo

Esmael Guambe Democratic Movement of Mozambique Maputo

Ester Oluwah Eduardo Mondlane University Maputo

Eufémia Hamela Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Farida Costa Institute of Social Communication, Government of Mozambique Maputo

Farida Mamad Centre of Legal and Judicial Training, Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Fátima Ricardo Joaquim Chissano University Maputo

Flora Quembo National Committee of Human Rights of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Prof. Gilbert Khadiagala Mozambican Association for People with Disability (ADEMO) Maputo

Graciano Langa Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Graciete Carilho SOICO Foundation (FUNDASO) Maputo

Helder Buque Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Hercílio Chauque Joaquim Chissano University Maputo

Hilario Lopes Maputo University (UniMaputo) Maputo

Hilfer Ferraz Polytechnical University Maputo

Hlengiwe Dube Centre of Human Rights of the University of Pretoria South Africa

Ilda Brau ADEMO Nampula

Irene Chissano Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Januário SouInstitute of Vocational Training and Labour Studies Alberto Cassimo, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

João Nota Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Jorge Manhique Expert in Human Rights for Disability - Global Fund for People with Disability Maputo

Jorge Vasco ADEMO Zambézia

José Bambo Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Association, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Kátia Guimende Jornal Global Maputo

Lídia Soares Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Lucas Mkuti Joaquim Chissano University Maputo

Lúcia Suzete UniMaputo Maputo

86

Marcelino Munguambene

Ministry of Education and Human Development, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Maria de Lurdes Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Moises Nhantumbo TV Media Mais Maputo

Muhamad Younusse Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Natália Mulauiha Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action of Mozambique, Republic of Mozambique Nampula

Olímpio Zavale INE, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Paul Gomis United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture Maputo

Raquel Carilho Consultancy and Human Resources Development Maputo

Raul Senda Jornal SAVANA Maputo

Ricardo Moresse ADEMO Maputo

Rui Maquene Humanity and Inclusion, Mozambique Maputo

Rui Rodrigues Ministry of Education and Human Development, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Selma Loala FUNDASO Maputo

Severino Diquissone Forum of Mozambican Associations for People with Disability Niassa

Simão Nhambi Governance, Peace and Leadership Institute Maputo

Sónia Macuácua Jornal Yinguissane Maputo

Suzete Zunguze Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Telma MueioInstitute of Vocational Training and Labour Studies Alberto Cassimo, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Teresa Muianga Mozambican Women's Association Maputo

Wilson Zimba ADEMO Maputo

His Excellence Younusse Amad Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Zacarias Couto Jornal Vertical Maputo

Zacarias Zicai Light for The World, Mozambique Sofala

87

2. Consultation Workshop in the Southern Region (Inhambane, Gaza, Maputo Province, and Maputo) on Political, Social and Economic Inclusion of People with Disability in Mozambique

This workshop was held on 27 March 2019 in the city of Beira, Sofala.

The objective of the workshop was to bring together stakeholders in the northern

region, different associations of people with disability, members of the provincial

government and representatives of national and international civil society

organisations working in the field of disability. The main objective of the regional

consultations was to identify, among people with disability themselves, the main

political, social and economic challenges and barriers they experienced, and to

determine their aspirations and desires for the design of the national agenda for

the area of disability in Mozambique.

Agostinho Folide Mozambique Deaf Association (ASSUMO) Maputo

Alexandre Banze Mozambican Association for People with Disability (ADEMO) Inhambane

Alves Manhiça Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Mozambique Maputo

Ana Paula ADEMO Maputo Province

António Cossa Network for the Assistance of Victims of Mines (RAVIM) Maputo

António Muchave Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

António Muchave Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Arcénia Lopes Mozambican Association for Youth with Disability (AJODEMO) Gaza

Cantol Pondja Forum of Mozambican Associations for People with Disability (FAMOD) Maputo

Carlos Gudes ADEMO Maputo

Castigo Calane ADEMO Maputo Province

Claive Juizo WFD, Mozambique Maputo

Cornélia Bombo Luana Semeia Sorrisos Cooperative Maputo

Delton Muianga WFD, Mozambique Maputo

Eufémia Hamela Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Farida Gulamo Association Counselling Office for Women, Young People and Parents of Children with Disabilities (GAMA) Maputo

Genito LóbuaCommittee of Social Affairs, Gender, Technology and Social Communication of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Prof. Gilbert Khadiagala University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa

Glaúcia Fumo ADEMO Maputo

Hélio Munguambe Mozambican Youth Association of Deaf (AJOSMO) Maputo

88

Janina Matlava Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Mental Disability (ACRIDEME) Maputo

João Magaia N’LHUVUKO Association Maputo

João Passe ADEMO Maputo Província

Jorge Manhique National Expert in the Rights of People with Disability - Global Fund for People with Disability Maputo

Jossias Micheu Association Counselling Office for Women, Young People and Parents of Children with Mental Disability (GAMA) Maputo

Lázaro Tomás Mozambican Association of Mental Health Users (AMUSAM) Maputo

Lúcia Chissengue Mozambican Association of the Visually Impaired (AMDV) Maputo

Mateus Cristiano Mozambican Association of Blind People and Visually Impaired (ACAMO) Gaza

Mateus H. Mateus ACAMO --------------

Mergina Jossaie ADEMO Maputo Province

Nelso Mahesse ADEMO Maputo Province

Olutobi Ayeni WFD, United Kingdom United Kingdom

Ricardo Moresse ADEMO Maputo

Rosita Chionissi ACRIDEME Maputo

Samito Zunguza AJODEMO Maputo

Samo Chaúque ADEMO Maputo Province

Sérgio Guivala Association of Young Technicians with Disabilities of Mozambique (CINFORTÉCNICA) Maputo

Teresa Muianga Mozambique Women's Association (AMAMUS) Maputo

89

3. Consultation Workshop in the Central Region (Sofala, Manica, Tete and Zambézia) on the Political, Social and Economic Inclusion of People with Disability in Mozambique

This workshop was held on 8 February 2019 in the city of Beira, Sofala.

The objective of the workshop was to bring together stakeholders in the northern

region, different associations of people with disability, members of provincial

governments and representatives of national and international civil society

organisations working in the field of disability. The main objective of the regional

consultations was to identify, among people with disability themselves, the main

political, social and economic challenges and barriers they experienced and to

determine their aspirations and desires for the design of the national agenda for

the area of disability in Mozambique.

Alberto António Mozambican Association for People with Disability (ADEMO) Sofala

Alberto Simão ADEMO ----------

Angelina Cravina Association of Women with Disability in Sofala Province (AMOPODESO)

Sofala

Antónia Piri Pir Mozambique Deaf Association (ASSUMO) Sofala

Antónia Tete Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

António Cabrito Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Tete

António Daniel Sign Language Interpreter Sofala

António Nhangoemete Miracles in Mozambique (MiM) Sofala

Armanda de Sousa Provincial Directorate of Science and Technology, Higher Education and Vocational Technical Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education and Professional Technical Education, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Armando Eforte ADEMO Sofala

Armando Manuel ADEMO Zambézia

Azevedo Mudendere ADEMO Sofala

Bacar Bale Mozambican Association for the Victims of Road Unsafety (AMIVIRO)

Sofala

Carlitos Álvaro Mozambican Organisation for Rehabilitation Based in the Community (OREBACOM)

Sofala

Carlos Chico Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Zambézia

Catarina Marrucana ASSUMO Sofala

Cesaltina Artur Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

90

Chacupa Chimoio Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Chico Conga ADEMO Sofala

Clementina Agostinho ADEMO Sofala

Cristina Humo OREBACOM Sofala

Daniel Sauguiza ADEMO Sofala

Delton Muianga Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Mozambique

Maputo

Dolvina Tomas Association Woman Law and Development (MULEIDE) Sofala

Domingos Antonio Institute of Social Action (INAS) - Delegation of the Sofala Province, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Domingos Madala Provincial Directorate of Education and Human Development, Ministry of Education and Human Development, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Dortina Escova Directorate of Public Works, Housing, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Eugénio Tomás Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Manica

Félix José ADEMO Sofala

Filipe Boca Sofala Child Protection Network Association (SOPROC)

Francisco Erale Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Tete

Genito Lóbua Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Technology and Social Communication of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Gilda Pente Association of Christian Help Sofala

Hilária Garrine ESMABAMA Association Sofala

Hilário Ntefula ADEMO Tete

Inês Chefinha Association Voice of Women in Sofala (AVOMS) Sofala

Isabel Mabingo ADEMO Sofala

Isabel Vicente Christian Council of Mozambique Sofala

Jill Lovell Institute Mission for Education Sofala

João Vetio Youth Association for the Prevention and Fight against Epidemics (AJUPCE)

Sofala

Jorge Emílio ADEMO Sofala

Jorge Manhique National Expert in Human Rights for Disability - Global Fund for People with Disability

Maputo

José Chico ADEMO Sofala

José Cundiza Forum of Mozambican Associations for People with Disability (FAMOD)

Sofala

José Dikson Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

José Matoeca FAMOD Manica

Lifeterio Fernandes Government Secretary for Sofala Province, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Lord Chissiva Licungo University Sofala

91

Luís Jeque Mozambique Development Centre for the Deaf (NUDESMO) Sofala

Manuel João ADEMO Sofala

Margarida Tesoura Solid Foundation/Firme Alicerce Sofala

Maria Alfandega Institute of Vocational Training and Labour Studies Alberto Cassimo, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Martinho Daniel ADEMO Sofala

Mussa Abacar SACATUCUA Association Sofala

Nelson Joaquim Provincial AIDS Council, National AIDS Council, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Sofala

Nuro Issufo TV Surdo Mozambique Association (TV SURDO) Sofala

Passado Changaveza Mozambican Association for Youth with Disability (AJODEMO)

Sofala

Pedro Macarusse People-to-people Development Aid, School of Teachers for the Future

Sofala

Prof. Gilbert Khadiagala University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa

Puleze Luís ADEMO Sofala

Rabeca Mandevo MiM Sofala

Ricardo Moresse ADEMO Maputo

Samuel Daniel TV SURDO Sofala

Sara Charles Sign Language Interpreter Sofala

Sergio Domingos dos Reis

Forum of Mozambican Associations of People with Disability (FAMOD)

Tete

Sérgio Mouia FAMOD Sofala

Vilma Beto Beira Commercial Association (ACB) Sofala

Virgílio Mubai Social Activist Sofala

Zacarias Zicai Light for the World, Mozambique Sofala

Zacarias Zicai Ligth for The World, Moçambique Sofala

92

4 . Consultation Workshop in the Northern Region (Nampula, Cabo Delgado and Niassa) on Political, Social and Economic Inclusion of People with Disability in Mozambique

This workshop was held on 5 February 2019 in the city of Nampula.

The objective of the workshop was to bring together stakeholders in the northern

region, different associations of people with disability, members of provincial

governments and representatives of national and international civil society

organisations working in the field of disability. The main objective of the regional

consultations was to identify, among people with disability themselves, the main

political, social and economic challenges and barriers they experienceed and to

determine their aspirations and desires for the design of the national agenda for

the area of disability in Mozambique.

Acácio Forum of Mozambican Associations for the Disabled (FAMOD) Niassa

Adelaide Marques FAMOD Nampula

Aida Mariamo Mozambique Deaf Association (ASSUMO) Nampula

Aissa Horácio Mozambican Association for people with Disability (ADEMO) Nampula

Alberto Paco Mozambique Youth Association for People with Disability (AJODEMO) Nampula

Ali Afito FAMOD Nampula

Amimo Máquina ADEMO Cabo Delegado

António Muchave Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique (MGCAS) Maputo

Argentina Caetano FAMOD Nampula

Augusto Amisse ADEMO Nampula

Bernardo ADEMO Nampula

Camilo Morreira FAMOD Nampula

Carlitos Inácio Mozambique Association for Blind People and Visually Impaired (ACAMO) Nampula

Carlos Guedes ADEMO Maputo

Carlota Ali ADEMO Nampula

Cipriano Vilhena ACAMO Nampula

Delton Muianga Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Mozambique Maputo

Diocleciana Paulo ADEMO Nampula

Francisco Suade Provincial Directorate of Children and Social Action Cabo Delegado

Genito LóbuaCommittee on Gender Social Affairs, Technology and Social Communication of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

93

Prof. Gilbert Khadiagala University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa

Gulamo Hassine ACAMO Nampula

Gulamo Yassine ACAMO Nampula

Hilário Mecuna ADEMO ------

Ilda Brau ADEMO Nampula

Imamo Cheche FAMOD Cabo Delegado

Ivone Baessa ADEMO Nampula

João Mucuamuene ADEMO Nampula

Jorge Manhique National Expert in Human Rights for Disability - Global Fund for People with Disability Maputo

Juma Alberto ADEMO Nampula

Lúcia Bula ADEMO Niassa

Muamisse Alif ADEMO Nampula

Muzé Sualé Sign Language Interpreter Nampula

Natália Mulauiha Provincial Directorate of Gender, Children and Social Action Nampula

Paulino Raimundo AJODEMO Nampula

Paulo Curatane ADEMO Nampula

Ricardo Moresse ADEMO Maputo

Zaima Saide FAMOD Nampula

94

5. Workshop on the Design of Terms of Reference and Issues to Conduct Regional Consultations for Designing the National Agenda for Political, Social and Economic Inclusion of People with Disability in Mozambique

This workshop was held on 30 January 2019, in Maputo city.

The main objective of this workshop was to bring together the key national and

international stakeholders (government, civil society, international development

agencies, and cooperation groups and academia) who work and are interested

in the political, social and economic inclusion of people with disability in

Mozambique.

Abanes Ndanda Magazine Independente Maputo

Agostinho Folide Mozambique Deaf Association (ASUMO) Maputo

Alves Manhiça Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) Maputo

André Carvalho Social Activist Maputo

António Muchave Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Arnaldo Namburete British Council, Mozambique, Maputo

Bruno Zita National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) Maputo

Cantol Pondja Forum of Mozambican Associations for People with Disability (FAMOD)

Maputo

Carlos Guedes Mozambican Association for people with Disability (ADEMO) Maputo

Carlos Quembo Association for Fighting Poverty and Helping People with Disabilities (APODEMOS)

Maputo

Claive Juizo WFD, Mozambique Maputo

Cristina Machel Movement Education for All (MEPT) Maputo

Delton Muianga WFD Maputo

Denisse Monteiro International Organisation of Labour (OIT) Maputo

Edina Kozma United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Mozambique Maputo

Elena Pani Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO), Mozambique Maputo

Elodie Finel Humanity and Inclusion, Mozambique Maputo

Elsa Dimand Mozambique National Association of Municipalities (ANAMM) Maputo

Francesca Bruschi Italian Development Cooperation Agency Maputo

Gaia Segola UNICEF, Mozambique Maputo

Genito Lóbua Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Technology and Social Communication of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Gilbert Khadiagala University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa

Graciano Langa Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Inocência Amós Mozambique Association for Blind People and Visually Impaired (ACAMO)

Maputo

Jorge Manhique National Expert for Human Rights for Disability - Global Fund for People with Disability

Maputo

Judite Carolina United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO)

Maputo

95

Laura Souto Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Technology and Social Communication of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Marília Tivane Mozambique Association of Relatives and Friends of Deaf People (AMOFAS)

Maputo

Nathaly Guzmán United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA) Maputo

Ricardo Moresse ADEMO Maputo

Selma Loala SOICO Foundation (FUNDASO) Maputo

Sérgio Miguel Mozambique Association for Blind People and Visually Impaired (ACAMO)

Maputo

Terezinha Da Silva WLSA - Mozambique, Maputo

Valentine Penson Humanity and Inclusion, Mozambique Maputo

Zacarias Zicai Light for the World, Mozambique Sofala

96

6. National Conference on Public Policies and Strategies to Promote the Social, Economic and Political Inclusion of People with Disability in Mozambique

This event was the first activity of the programme in Mozambique that took place

in Maputo city on 27 and 28 September 2018.

The main objective of this national conference was to establish the basis for

the creation of a formal and democratic space for a dialogue between the key

national and regional stakeholders in the area of disability on the political, social

and economic inclusion of people with disability in Mozambique.

Acácio Beleza Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Aida Matsinhe Jornal Magazine, Mozambique Maputo

Alberto Mate Water and Sanitation Observatory (OAS) Maputo

Albino Duvane Forum of Mozambican Associations of People with Disability (FAMOD)

Maputo

Amélia Manjate Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Amimo Máquina Mozambican Association for People with Disability (ADEMO) Cabo Delegado

Amina Chitava Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) Maputo

Amina Issa Right to Play, Mozambique Maputo

Ana Miguel Mozambique Human Rights League (LDH) Maputo

Ana Sousa Mozambican Association of Judges (AMJ) Maputo

Anastácio Chembeze Institute of Vocational Training and Labour Studies Alberto Cassimo, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Angelina Mucavele Mozambique Association for Blind People and Impaired Vision (ACAMO)

Maputo

Antónia Piri Pir Mozambique Deaf Association (ASSUMO) Sofala

António Muchave Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

António Nhamtubo ADEMO Maputo

Astrid Ramecgurt Embassy of France in Mozambique Maputo

Benilde Mourana Luana Semeia Sorrisos Cooperative Maputo

Brito Soca Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Government of the Republic of Mozambique (MOPHRH)

Maputo

Bruno Zita Centre for Human Rights at the Eduardo Mondlane University

Maputo

Cantol Pondja FAMOD Maputo

Carlos Guedes ADEMO Maputo

Charles Maibave Mozambican Association for the Visually Impaired (AMDV) Maputo

Claive Juizo Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Mozambique

Maputo

Cláudio Mate ADEMO Maputo

97

Constantino Sitoe Centre of Resources for Inclusive Education (CREI) Maputo

Cornélia Bombo Luana Semeia Sorrisos Cooperative Maputo

Dalia David Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mozambique, Maputo

Maputo

Dávio David Jornal Zambeze, Mozambique Maputo

Delma Comissário Independent Consultant

Delton Muianga WFD, Mozambique Maputo

Dianah Msipa Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa

South Africa

Dulce Cumaio National Institute of Employment (INEP) - Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Edna Suleimane Ministry of Health, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Elisa Dabula Televisão de Moçambique (TVM) Maputo

Emerson Chiloveque TV Surdo, Mozambique Maputo

Ercilda Mazivilazita Institute for Vocational Training and Labour Studies Alberto Cassimo (IFPELAC), Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Farida Gulamo FAMOD Maputo

Fátima Bandeira WFD, Mozambique Maputo

Fernando Dias Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Flávia Changule Higher Institute of Science and Technology of Mozambique (ISCTEM)

Maputo

Francesca Bruschi Italian Development Cooperation Agency, Maputo Maputo

Gabriel De Barros TV Surdo, Mozambique Maputo

Giada Gelli Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO), Mozambique

Maputo

Henry Kenrick Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Mozambique

Maputo

Hugo Machemba National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) Maputo

Innocentia Mgijima-Konopi Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, South Africa

South Africa

Inocêncio Zandamela ASSUMO) Sofala

Ivana Stakteas ADEMO -------------

Janete Magaia LDH Maputo

Jéssica Adelaide Academic League for Community Development (LADC) Maputo

João Magaia FAMOD Maputo Province

João Vembane N’weti – Communication for Health Maputo

Joaquim Machate Ministry of Veterans (MICO) Maputo

Joaquina Titos FAMOD ------

Jorge Emílio ADEMO ----

José Macou AMDV Maputo

José Victor ACAMO Maputo

Judas Manhique Municipal Assembly of Maputo City Maputo

Laura Amélia Mozambique Association for the Support of People with Albinism (ALBINOZ)

Maputo

98

Leonardo Duarte Jornal Txopela Maputo

Lestre Madeira Rádio ZFM, Mozambique Maputo

Leta Timba Mozambican Association of Deaf Women (AMAMUS) Maputo

Lúcia Simbine Pedagogic University (UP) Maputo

Luís Mutondo Mozambican Debt Group (GMD) Maputo

Lura Mozambique Association for Youth with Disability (AJODEMO)

Maputo

Manuel Amisse Network for the Assistance of Victims of Mines (RAVIM) Maputo

Maria Karlsen Mozambican Association of Judges (AMJ) Maputo

Maria Manguana National Directorate of Special Education, - Ministry of Education and Human Development, Government of the Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Mateus Cristiano ACAMO Maputo

Nelson Mahesse ADEMO Maputo

Nizia Gomes Mozambique In Action Association Maputo

Orlando Machuza ACAMO Maputo

Pedro Chimuze Journalism School of Mozambique Maputo

Reno Albino Jornal Remate Maputo

Ricardo Moresse ADEMO Maputo

Rui Maquene Humanity and Inclusion, Mozambique Maputo

Sandra Guite FAMOD Maputo

Saquina Chivale MICO Maputo

Sérgio Mundlovo SEKELEKANI – Communication for Development, Mozambique

Maputo

Shamila Premugy GMD Maputo

Sidónio Tembe GMD Maputo

Sofia Machuvene TV Surdo, Mozambique Maputo

Sousa Camanguira TV Surdo, Mozambique Maputo

Stélio Ramos Light for the World, Mozambique Maputo

Tánia Cossa Academic League for Community Development (LADC) Maputo

Vanessa Ah-Hoy Activist Maputo

Verna Saúte Mozambican Association of Dentists (AMMD) Maputo

William Oluchina Centre of Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, South Africa

South Africa

Focus Groups to discuss the Consultation Process on Political, Social and Economic

Inclusion of People with disability in Mozambique

100

Focus Groups

The working sessions in focus groups were aimed at identifying and ascertaining

the aspirations and wishes of people with different types of disability about the

main challenges and barriers to better intervention of sectorial public policies to

bring abouteffective political, social and economic inclusion of these groups in

the public spaces of the country.

Association of Mozambican Deaf Women (AMAMOS)

Mozambican Association of Mental Health Users (AMUSAM)

Mozambique Association for the Support of People with Albinism (ALBINOZ)

Association for Deaf Youth of Mozambique (AJOSMO)

____________

Interviews

Interviews were conducted with different organisations, government and

cooperation and development agencies. The objective was to allow the recounting

of experiences regarding ongoing actions and possible recommendations on

the effective political, social and economic inclusion of people with disability in

Mozambique, by different actors who work directly or indirectly in the area of

disability.

Luis Bitone National Committee on Human Rights, Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Nathaly Guzmán United Nations Fund for the Population (UNFPA) Maputo

Nguma Jone Provincial Directorate for Gender, Children and Social Action, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, Republic of Mozambique

Nampula

Albachir Macassar Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Maria Manguana Ministry of Education, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Maria Mate Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Republic of Mozambique

Maputo

Hubert Neuwrith Austrian Development Agency Maputo

Olimpio Zavale National Institute of Statistics, Republic of Mozambique Maputo

Gallery of the Consultation Process on Political, Social and Economic Inclusion of

People with disability in Mozambique