This paper is about tolerance and the disabled in Morocco. It focuses on the various policies and strategies to integrate the disabled with a special emphasis on his Majesty Mohammed VI's attitude towards the disabled.
Disabled people face many social problems in terms of the relationship between them and their environment. Because of their disabilities, disabled people suffer a lot and are underestimated and disrespected in Moroccan society. In the Moroccan daily French Newspaper "L'opinion", on the 3rd of December 1998, Hafid Fassi Fihri wrote an article about the celebration of the international day of handicapped. This celebration according to him is not seen from a positive side by disabled people since they know that they are condemned to exclusion, rejection and lack of a socio-economic integration. The problem is that it is much worse when these disabled are educated and qualified, because they become completely unprivileged and marginalized when the question of employment is raised. Although these disabled are intelligent, educated and talented, the effect of their disability has led to ridicule, misunderstanding, and marginalization.
However, disbaled persons should be given their rightful place within their local community where they can live and work. By giving a great attention to disabled, His Majesty King Mohammed VI encourages us to take this issue into consideration.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI continued what he began when he was a Crown Prince. His education is marked by a strong orientation toward humanitarian attitudes, especially with the poor, rural women, children and the disabled. Tolerance is predominant in his actions. In a speech given on Tuesday 12th, October 1999, his Majesty Mohammed VI urged local authorities to have as sole objective the protection of rights and freedom. He added that the concept of tolerance ought to be based on the protection and help of disabled and the preservation of security and stability for them. His Majesty's main objective is aiding disabled people to become completely independent persons and treated as"normal." His Majesty's attitude is based on the fact that one shall accept the other's differences, other lifestyles, in short tolerance. At the same time, we shall co-exist in harmony and strenghten the quality of social relations. This requires and implies interest, concern and consideration.
In a speech delivered on the occasion of the 24th Anniversary of the Green March on November 6th, 1999, King Mohammed VI said, "We have given instructions to devote a budget aiming at solving the problem of unemployment in the sahara provinces and allow a social integration of disabled." There were already some organizations for the disabled in existence, such as the "Le haut commissariat" for handicapped created in 1994 by late Hassan II and directed by Aziza Bennani. It was established in March 1994, and it takes care of mentally and physically disabled people and provides for their protection and social integration.
There is also the Secretary of State in charge of disabled persons, Mrs. Nouzha Chekrouni, who in an announcement made to the Moroccan News Agency, in July 27th, 1998, stated that with the assistance of the European Union, they will collect accurate data on the needs and expectations of this population and consequently help the government adopt "a national policy in matters of the disabled." Mrs. Nouzha Chekrouni said that this act would help policy-makers define the priorities, rationalize choices and elaborate programs adapted to the daily reality of disabled persons to ensure their integration in the working life. The integration of the disabled is not a mere necessity, but rather a matter of right, asserting that the social integration of this category of the population is on top of her department's priorities. Apart from promoting this social integration through education, schooling, health, access to public transport, buildings, the department is also considering the possibility of including sign-language in telelvision news to benefit the deaf.
There are also plans for improving the services provided by summer camps so that disabled children can participate in these camps along with other children. The "talking book library," part of the Institute for the Blind, located in Témara was created in October 1998 by the Alaouite Organization for the Protection of the Blind in Morocco presided by the Princess Lamiae, with the help of the Secretary of State for disabled people. It has for general mission the creation of books on tapes with the objective of responding to the demand of the blind and the partially sighted. It has for goal to offer the visually impaired quality service to facilitate access to what they need in a fast way, to integrate them in a world of information and to encourage their involvement in all fields.
In "Le Temps du Maroc", on October 16th, 1998, an article about poverty and the disabled informs us that an ever-increasing number of associations have been in action. From 60 in March 1994, the number increased to 187 in June 1997. For instance, there are five National Unions of associations for handicapped people. 78 multidisciplinary associations. 44 associations for the physically disabled associations. 16 associations for the mentally disabled associations. 28 visual deficient associations and 21 associations for the deaf-mute. The late King Hassan II aimed at helping and improving the capabilities of disabled people by giving them special cards, which grant them, rights and advantages in many fields. They can also be involved in the fields of learning, communication, work and transportation. During his visit to Tetouan, King Mohammed VI was given many clarifications about the constructions of the handicapped center of the association "Al Hanane." This project will be realized thanks to the late king's donation of 1.500.000 DH.
At the international
level, Moroccan channel 2 announced that on Friday 24th, May 1999 in Dakar,
Morocco and Senegal signed a protocol of agreement on cooperation on the
integration of disabled. The agreement provides for the exchange of information,
experience and strategies related to the protection of disabled and other
vulnerable social groups. On Tuesday 9th, 1999, an article in "Le Matin"
was written about the awards ceremony chaired by the sovereign Mohammed
VI in Salé. Prizes were given to the winners and champions who set
the new record during the second wheelchair games organized on the occasion
of the second campaign of solidarity and the fight against poverty. During
numerous discussions held at Al Akhawayn
University during the first Colloquium on Tolerance, participants kept
referring to the vague nature of "tolerance" as a concept. Dr. Michel Porret
quoted Gothe: "Tolerance should be just a temporary turn of your mind:
it must lead to acceptance." We must not spare any efforts to enable the
disabled who are so often marginalized to recover their dignity and to
integrate a society that is often hostile.
| This Part is done by Mouna Oubih. Email: 001BK126056@stud.alakhawayn.ma |