International Disability Alliance (IDA)

Member Organizations:
Disabled Peoples' International, Down Syndrome International,
Inclusion International, International Federation of ard of earing People,
!orld "lind #nion, !orld Federation of t$e Deaf,
!orld Federation of t$e Deaf"lind,
!orld %etwor& of #sers and Sur'i'ors of Psyc$iatry,
(rab Organization of Disabled People, )uropean Disability Forum,
*ed +atinoamericana de Organizaciones no ,ubernamentales de Personas con
Discapacidad y sus familias -*I(DIS., Pacific Disability Forum
IDA recommendations for Concluding Observations, CRC 57
th
ession
/$e International Disability (lliance -ID(. $as prepared t$e following recommendations for
t$e 0oncluding Obser'ations, based on references to persons wit$ disabilities to be found in
t$e State report submitted to t$e 0ommittee on t$e *ig$ts of t$e 0$ild1
!AR"AI#
State report
231 /$e legislature in "a$rain $as re'iewed t$e legislation to bring it into line wit$ t$e
0on'ention on t$e *ig$ts of t$e 0$ild1 /$e c$anges w$ic$ $a'e been made in t$is area
include t$e following:
-m. #nder (ct %o1 42 of 5667, concerning t$e welfare, re$abilitation and employment of
persons wit$ disabilities, ministries and ot$er institutions are re8uired to liaise wit$ t$e
Ministry of Social De'elopment on t$e deli'ery of regular, integrated and continuous ser'ices
for persons wit$ disabilities, particularly in t$e areas of $ealt$, social welfare, education,
culture, sports, re$abilitation, employment, communications, $ousing, etc1 /$e (ct
furt$ermore regulates t$e establis$ment of centres, welfare $omes and wor&s$ops for
$ersons %ith disabilities, as well as retirement pensions and lea'e for em$loyees %ith
disabilities1
Challenges
9 /$e law on t$e welfare, re$abilitation and employment of $ersons %ith
disabilities needs to address t$e issue of re$abilitating public buildings and facilities
in "a$rain
!& Children %ith disabilities (art& '()
5351 Ministry of Social De'elopment re$abilitation centres offer all &inds of welfare,
re$abilitation, social, $ealt$ and 'ocational ser'ices to young persons and children %ith
disabilities1 More t$an 726 persons wit$ different &inds of disabilities utilize t$ese ser'ices
e'ery year1 /$e following table s$ows $ow many centres and units t$ere were for $ersons
%ith disabilities in 56641
No. Centre name No. of users
1. National Bank of Bahrain Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped Children 296
2. Academic and Vocational Rehabilitation Centre 171
3. Bank of Bahrain and !"ait Rehabilitation Center 121
#. $haikhan Alfar%i Centre for &otal Comm!nication 92
'. Children(% )a* Care Centre 37
Disabled Services Center
:
5331 /$is centre is responsible for offering ;obs w$ic$ are matc$ed to t$e $ealt$ and
p$ysical capacities of t$e disabled $erson1 It liaises wit$ t$e full range of institutions and
pri'ate sector enterprises and pro'ides trained assistants w$o accompany t$e person to
wor& during t$e first si< mont$s of employment in order to ease t$e integration process1
5371 /$e centre pro'ides psyc$osocial, legal and 'ocational assistance to $ersons %ith
disabilities and t$eir families1 ( committee comprising all t$e State ser'ices ministries and
ci'il society institutions w$ic$ deal wit$ disability issues was set up to assess and e<plore
ways of meeting t$e needs of $ersons %ith disabilities1 /$e centre recei'es re8uests from
$ersons %ith disabilities for dri'ing lessons, assisti'e de'ices and access to an electronic
library1
Type of disability Total
A!ditor* 111
+ental 113
Vi%!al 36
,h*%ical 141
+!ltiple 36
Total 437
5341 /$e Ministry is currently engaged in t$e establis$ment of a comple< in t$e (li district
for $ersons %ith disabilities1 /$e comple< is e<pected to pro'ide different &inds of ser'ices
in a single geograp$ical location so t$at $ersons %ith s$ecial needs can $a'e access to an
integrated pac&age of care and re$abilitation assistance1 /$e comple<, w$ic$ will cost an
estimated "D 312 million, will $ouse a diagnosis, assessment and testing centre, a centre for
p$ysiot$erapy and psyc$ot$erapy, a learning and training resources centre, and a new
Do%n)s syndrome centre, w$ic$ is to be t$e first of its &ind in t$e region1
53=1 /$e "igher Committee for *ersons %ith Disabilities was establis$ed wit$ Dr1
Fatima$ Mo$amed (l>"alus$i, t$e Minister for Social De'elopment, as its c$airperson1 /$e
members are e<perts and officials from all t$e rele'ant ministries and ci'il society1 /$e
0ommittee drew up its rules of procedure and financial regulations1 ( 0ommittee fund will be
establis$ed to $elp meet t$e needs of $ersons %ith disabilities&
53?1 Furt$er to Decree %o1 56 of 5663, it was decided to pro'ide $ersons %ith
disabilities in different age groups wit$ an allowance1 In 5664, some 2,??6 persons wit$
'arious &inds of disabilities recei'ed t$e allowance1 /$e purpose of t$e allowance is to $elp
pro'ide recipients and t$eir families wit$ appropriate li'ing assistance, to supply t$eir needs
and to offset some of t$e costs of t$eir care1 (n allocation of "D 21: million was budgeted to
pay out t$e allowance to all applicants registered on waiting lists1
N!mber of recipient% of the di%abilit* allo"ance- b* re.!e%t and %e/- 2007
Reason for application Male Female Total
Vi%!al di%abilit* 171 130 208
,h*%ical di%abilit* 666 #'3 1 119
+ental di%abilit* 1 227 939 2 166
A!ditor* di%abilit* 399 369 768
+!ltiple di%abilitie% 211 160 371
A!ti%m 33 1' 48
Cerebral pal%* 121 19 210
Total 2 835 2 155 4 990
Reci$ients of the disability allo%ance, by se+ and age grou$, ',,7
5
Age group Male Female Total
029 #70 36# 834
10219 121 '91 1 419
20229 691 #92 1 190
30239 #06 3'2 758
#02#9 313 2'6 569
'0 127 93 220
Total 2 835 2 155 4 990
-fforts and in$ut from governmental, civil society and $rivate sector institutions
%hich deal %ith $ersons %ith disabilities
Ministry of Education
5761 /$e Ministry of )ducation supports $ersons %ith sensory and $hysical disabilities
and t$ose w$o $a'e learning difficulties or are slo% learners, integrating c$ildren into
Ministry of )ducation sc$ools at t$e basic stage of integration namely, location.based
integration1 Children %ith s$ecial needs are taught in s$ecial classes or s$ecial
learning units at $ublic schools1
ocial integration
57:1 0$ildren enrolled in s$ecial classes or units ;oin public sc$ool c$ildren in acti'ities
suc$ as games, e<cursions, and arts and acti'ities classes1
Classroom.based integration
5751 /$is type of integration ta&es place after t$e pre'ious two stages $a'e been
completed1 Children %ith disabilities and c$ildren wit$out disabilities study t$e same
curricula and syllabus1
/inistry of "ealth
57@1 /$e Ministry $elps to raise awareness about t$e pre'ention of disabilities1 Its $ealt$
centres $a'e early screening units for e<pectant mot$ers and newborns, w$ic$ pro'ide
'accinations free of c$arge and test for disabilities1
-fforts and in$uts from civil and $rivate institutions
5721 Institutions in t$e ci'il society sector are ta&ing steps to impro'e t$eir effecti'eness in
line wit$ t$eir aspirations and wit$ t$e role t$at t$ey oug$t to play in social welfare
de'elopment1 /$e following institutions contribute to t$e care and re$abilitation of $ersons
%ith disabilities:
Amal Institute for Special Education
5771 /$e (mal Institute for Special )ducation is run by t$e 0$ild and Maternal !elfare
(ssociation1 It offers a series of educational, ad'isory, 'ocational, $ealt$ and leisure ser'ices
to $elp s$ape t$e capacities, s&ills and be$a'iour of $ersons %ith disabilities1 /$e Institute
trains c$ildren aged between 7 and :2, w$o are subse8uently transferred to re$abilitation
centres or regular sc$ools, as t$e case may be1 /$ere are currently :55 students enrolled in
t$e Institute1
Amal Early Care Centre
5741 /$e (mal )arly 0are 0entre is run by t$e 0$ild and Maternal !elfare (ssociation1 It
pro'ides special care to children in the ( to 0 age grou$ %ith disabilities wit$ a 'iew to
ac$ie'ing a balance between t$e le'el of education of t$ese c$ildren and t$at of t$eir peers1
It focuses on de'eloping t$e c$ildrenAs 'erbal s&ills and ability to participate in group acti'ities
among ot$er s&ills, allowing for differences between indi'iduals1 /$e 0entre is planning to
@
e<pand its ser'ices to include t$ose w$o are sight im$aired and children %ith auditory
and s$eech im$airments and to prepare t$em to mo'e on to special institutions once t$ey
reac$ t$e rig$t age1
Amir Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Centre for Hearing and Speech Development
57=1 /$e 0entre is part of t$e "a$raini Society for 0$ild De'elopment and was establis$ed
in :??2 to ser'e as a leading centre for t$e re$abilitation of persons wit$ auditory
disabilities in t$e ,ulf region in particular, and t$e (rab region in general1 In addition, it aims
at producing specialized researc$ and conducting studies on auditory disabilities and
$earing and speec$ problems at t$e local, (rab and international le'els1 /$e 0entre pro'ides
re$abilitation ser'ices for $ersons %ith auditory disabilities, delayed speec$ de'elopment
and speec$ impediments1 It does not use sign language to communicate wit$ t$e $earing
impaired but rat$er a met$od w$ic$ uses oral, auditory and lip>reading tec$ni8ues to teac$
children %ith auditory disabilities oral communication1 /$e 0entre uses t$e auditory>oral
met$od to communicate wit$ and teac$ t$e c$ildren1 Fifty c$ildren are currently enrolled in
t$e centre1
Al-afa Centre
57?1 (l>!afa 0entre is part of t$e !ahrain Association for /ental Retardation and was
founded in :??@1 /$e 0entre wor&s wit$ children %ith different 1inds of mental
disabilities1 It offers t$ese c$ildren recreational social programmes w$ic$ de'elop t$eir
capacities and build up t$eir s&ills, $elping to s$ape t$eir personalities and to gi'e t$em
some independence1
Al-!ashad Centre
5461 /$is 0entre is part of t$e !ahrain Association for /ental Retardation and began
operating in 56661 It caters for c$ildren wit$ autismB :4 c$ildren are currently registered wit$
t$e centre1 /$e ob;ect of t$e 0entre is to supply re$abilitation ser'ices to autistic children in
t$e :@ to :? age group, teac$ing t$em t$e s&ills t$at t$ey need to be able to li'e more
independent and dignified li'es and offering t$em 'ocational training t$at will allow t$em
access to employment opportunities1 /$e 0entre also assists and supports t$e families of t$e
students w$o ta&e part in t$ese programmes1
Saudi-"ahraini Institute for the "lind
54:1 /$e Saudi>"a$raini Institute for t$e "lind is a model of fraternal relations between
Saudi (rabia and "a$rain1 It is an e<tension of t$e former (l>%oor Institute for t$e (rabian
,ulf1 Its name was c$anged from (l>%oor Institute for t$e "lind to t$e Saudi>"a$raini Institute
for t$e "lind in Canuary :??4 and it currently $as 5= students1
Al-!ahma Centre for #outh Care
5451 (l>*a$ma 0entre began deli'ering ser'ices in :??41 Part of t$e "a$rain (ssociation
for Mental *etardation, t$is special 0entre operates on a non>for>profit basis, supplying a full
range of ser'ices and programmes on a day>care basis to young $ersons of both se+es
%ith severe mental disabilities1 Fifty students are currently enrolled in t$e centre1
Hidd !ehabilitation Centre for Special $eeds
54@1 /$e 0entre was opened in 566: and carries out diagnostic testing to assess
children)s mental, $hysical and sensory ca$acities1 It runs care, educational and
'ocational programmes for children %ith disabilities -minor and moderate mental
retardation. to prepare t$em for inclusion in Ministry of )ducation sc$ools1 It assists and
ad'ises families on $ow to accept t$eir c$ildren, teac$es c$ildren social adaptation s&ills,
self>reliance and a sense of self>wort$ and offers an integrated programme of counselling,
guidance and psyc$ot$erapy to $elp c$ildren gain a sense of psyc$ological e8uanimity1
/wenty>four students are enrolled in t$e 0entre at present1
Do%n&s Syndrome Care Centre
2
5471 Part of t$e "a$rain Do%n)s yndrome Society, t$e DownAs Syndrome 0are 0entre
was establis$ed in 566: to pro'ide: $ealt$, treatment, psyc$ological and social ser'icesB a
full range of care to young children %ith Do%n)s syndromeB assistance wit$ motor, mental,
language and social s&ills de'elopment in order to allow c$ildren to be introduced into society
under super'isionB training for adults wit$ DownAs syndromeB training to rectify parentsA
negati'e attitudes towards c$ildren wit$ t$e syndrome on t$e best ways of dealing wit$ t$e
c$ildrenB and assistance wit$ t$e integration of c$ildren wit$ DownAs syndrome in go'ernment
sc$ools1 (t present, t$ere are :66 students enrolled in t$e centre1
Sneha Centre
5441 /$is is a local centre, w$ic$ is run by and part of t$e Indian +adies (ssociation1 It was
establis$ed in :?=4 to pro'ide, t$roug$ targeted programmes and acti'ities, for t$e care and
re$abilitation of children %ith mental disabilities and cerebral $alsy1
"ahrain Institute for Special Education
54=1 /$is is a non>for>profit ci'il society institution w$ic$ was founded in 5665 to supply
8uality s$ecial education services and to raise awareness of met$ods for dealing wit$
children %ith s$ecial needs1 In addition to diagnostic and assessment ser'ices, t$e
institute pro'ides educational ser'ices, designs programmes and plans tailored to indi'idual
c$ildrenAs needs and offers educational ad'ice for all children %ith s$ecial needs1
"ahrain Comprehensive Care and !ehabilitation Centre for 'ersons %ith Special $eeds
54?1 /$is centre plays an important role in $elping children %ith s$ecial needs to
de'elop t$eir sensory and motor s&ills and p$ysical balance, to loo& after t$emsel'es, to
ac8uire socialization s&ills and to de'elop t$eir 'erbal s&ills1 /$e centre does 'ital wor& to
raise awareness of t$e importance of in'ol'ing t$e family in education and training for
children %ith mental disabilities in particular1 It offers beneficiaries t$e opportunity and t$e
training needed to communicate and wor& in partners$ip wit$ t$e training staff at t$e centre1
!ehabilitation Institute for Autism and !elated Communication Disorders
5=61 /$e *e$abilitation Institute was founded in :??? to pro'ide correct diagnoses of
autism and related disorders, toget$er wit$ training and re$abilitation for sufferers1 It offers
p$ysiot$erapy and medical ser'ices and trains staff to wor& wit$ autism sufferers1 It also
pro'ides training and re$abilitation for families, in cooperation wit$ world>class scientific
institutions specializing in autism1 ( trained team $as been set up to carry out $ome 'isits to
t$e families of autism sufferers1
$ational Institute for the Disabled
5=:1 /$is is a pri'ate institution, w$ic$ runs se'eral programmes and acti'ities to support
t$e deli'ery of care for $ersons %ith disabilities1
5=51 %ational ban&s also establis$ centres to support institutions for $ersons %ith
disabilities1 For e<ample, t$e %ational "an& of "a$rain built t$e %ational "an& of "a$rain
-%"". "ome for Disabled Children, w$ile t$e "an& of "a$rain and Duwait establis$ed a
re$abilitation centre1
Civil society associations %hich %or1 on disability issues
5=@1 /$e ci'il society associations w$ic$ wor& on disability issues are listed $ereunder1
"ahraini Association for the 'arents and (riends of the Disabled
5=21 /$e "a$raini (ssociation for t$e Parents and Friends of t$e Disabled was
establis$ed in 566@1 It wor&s wit$ go'ernmental institutions on issues affecting $ersons %ith
disabilities and t$eir parents and ma&es proposals on t$e establis$ment of ;oint
implementing mec$anisms wit$ t$ese institutions1
"ahrain Disabled Sports (ederation
3
5=31 /$e "a$rain Disabled Sports Federation was founded in :?=4 to promote disabled
sports and enable $ersons %ith disabilities to practise proper sports1 It ta&es part in local,
(rab and international c$ampions$ips and competitions1 (ppro<imately @66 persons %ith
mental, visual, $hysical or auditory disabilities use t$e FederationAs ser'ices1
"ahrain Mobility International Centre
5=71 /$e "a$rain Mobility International 0entre opened its doors in :??31 Its ob;ect is to
pro'ide $ersons %ith disabilities wit$ t$e c$ance to realize t$eir potential and to ta&e part
in 'arious programmes1 /$e 0entre $as @:7 members1
5=41 Some associations, suc$ as t$e "a$raini 0$aritable (ssociation, t$e "a$raini *ed
0rescent Society and a number of womenAs associations, ta&e a special interest in disability
issues1 ,o'ernmental institutions suc$ as t$e Ministry of ousing, Municipalities and t$e
)n'ironment, t$e Ministry of 0ommerce, t$e Ministry of /ransport, t$e Ministry of t$e Interior,
t$e Ministry of ealt$ and t$e Public (ut$ority for Eout$ and Sport contribute a great deal to
t$e ser'ices for $ersons %ith disabilities1
Assistance for the blind
5==1 In :?42, "a$rain establis$ed t$e %oor Institute for t$e "lind, w$ic$ is now &nown as
t$e Saudi>"a$raini Institute for t$e "lind1 /$e Institute, w$ic$ is run by t$e *egional "ureau
of t$e Middle )astern 0ommittee for t$e "lind in t$e ,ulf region, offers blind persons
scientific, educational and cultural re$abilitation assistance, toget$er wit$ social, $ealt$ and
li'ing support, in order to prepare t$em to become producti'e members of society and to
s$are t$eir s&ills and energies wit$ t$e rest of society1
5=?1 /$e Institute teac$es blind students t$e Ministry of )ducation curricula for primary
and intermediate education and t$en integrates t$e students into Ministry of )ducation
secondary sc$ools1 /$e students are also enrolled in t$e fourt$ grade of primary sc$ool and
in t$e intermediate stage and are pro'ided wit$ a full array of sc$ool supplies, suc$ as
te+tboo1s $rinted in !raille and free stationery1 /$e Institute offers $ealt$, social and
psyc$ological ser'ices and ta&es in all students between t$e ages of 7 and := years w$o are
blind or $a'e a severe visual im$airment1
5?61 "lind students wit$ multi$le disabilities are also admitted1 In 5664, a special welfare
and re$abilitation unit was set up for students in t$is category1 /$ese students need care,
re$abilitation, $ealt$ and psyc$ological ser'ices and some also need educational ser'ices1 (
special programme wit$ curricula tailored to eac$ groupAs needs was designed for students
in t$e unit1 /$e curricula include instruction in 'arious life and social s&ills, in addition to
computer training, music and sports1
5?:1 /$e Friends of t$e "lind (ssociation, w$ic$ was establis$ed in :?=:, is a pri'ate
organization t$at caters for t$e needs of t$e blind1 It pursues a number of ob;ecti'es, suc$
as ma&ing it easier for blind $ersons to get around, remo'ing t$e obstacles t$at t$ey meet
on t$eir way, ta&ing meaningful action to afford t$em t$e opportunity to play t$eir role in
society and pro'iding t$em wit$ appropriate forms of care and re$abilitation1
5?51 Moreo'er, t$e (ssociation supports indigent families wit$ blind members and
arranges treatment for blind $ersons w$o could reco'er t$eir sig$t or impro'e t$eir 'ision1
/o t$is end, it offers financial assistance, wit$ t$e aid of institutions and pri'ate indi'iduals,
and organizes social, cultural, sports and information acti'ities1
0$ild $ealt$ ser'ices
5?31 *egular c$ec&>ups $a'e been a'ailable at all $ealt$ centres since :?=71 Specially
trained doctors and community $ealt$ nurses regularly measure and assess c$ildrenAs
growt$, from t$e age of 5 mont$s up until t$e presc$ool stage -3 to 7 years of age.1 0$ildren
are 'accinated, t$eir growt$ is measured and t$eir $ealt$ is monitored1 If t$ey s$ow any
signs of poor growt$, t$ey will be referred to a specialist1 /$e following results $a'e been
ac$ie'ed:
7
( guide on regular paediatric c$ec&>ups was re'ised and updated to ta&e account of t$e
latest scientific tec$ni8ues for early screening for mental disorders and disabilities in
children1
Other $revention $rogrammes for children
Cochlear implants programme
@5:1 ( cochlear im$lants $rogramme was introduced and $as $elped impro'e t$e
8uality of care deli'ered to deaf children, offering t$em treatment for t$eir disability and
enabling t$em to lead normal li'es1
'remarital screening programme
@551 /$is programme was establis$ed in :??51 ( law was enacted introducing mandatory
premarital screening in order to reduce t$e incidence of common $ereditary diseases, in
particular sic&le cell anaemia, and to guarantee t$e $ealt$ of future generations1
Implementation of a programme to prevent eye disease and blindness
@5@1 ( programme was implemented to protect c$ildren from eye disease and to diagnose
sig$t problems from an early stage, identifying t$e causes of blindness and offering
treatments1 /$e following measures are included in t$e programme:
*egular testing of c$ildren at birt$
*etina e<aminations for premature babies
*egular testing of c$ildren at $ealt$ centres during t$e early mont$s of life -5, 2, 7, :=
and 52 mont$s.
/esting c$ildren before t$ey start sc$ool
/esting sc$ool c$ildren in t$e fourt$ grade of primary sc$ool and pro'iding training to
teac$ers
@@@1 "enefit for $ersons %ith s$ecial needs (disabilities.: *eflecting t$e interest ta&en
by t$e ,o'ernment in disability issues, 0abinet Decision %o1 :=64>@ of :5 September 5664
pro'ides for t$e payment of "D 36 per mont$ to eac$ $erson %ith a disability1 *eference is
made to t$is matter in part FII "1 of t$is report1
!egistration and attendance in primary and secondary schools
@471 "a$rain pro'ides educational opportunities for all1 It $as managed to absorb all
c$ildren of sc$ool age in primary education and to e<pand and de'elop ot$er stages of
education to a mar&ed degree, as s$own in t$e figures set out below1
)otal and net enrolment ratios in primary education
@441 /$e total enrolment rate in primary education refers to t$e number of new students in
t$e first grade of primary sc$ool, regardless of t$eir age, e<pressed as a percentage of t$e
population of t$e official age for enrolment in primary sc$ool -7 years.1 /$is proportion was
:6315 per cent in t$e 566:G65 academic year -:641? per cent for boys and :6513 per cent for
girls.1 In 5663G67, t$e figure was :6=1= per cent -:6?13 per cent for boys and :6=15 per cent
for girls.1 /$is increase can be ascribed to enrolment by some 3 year>olds in primary sc$ool,
toget$er wit$ t$e absorption of all c$ildren of compulsory sc$ool age in primary education
and t$e integration of children %ith s$ecial needs (including children %ith Do%n)s
syndrome and minor mental im$airments.1
2:21 /$e aims of primary education are deri'ed from t$e principles of education and
basically consist in ensuring t$e integrated mental, p$ysical, spiritual, moral and social
de'elopment of t$e c$ild in a conte<t w$ere t$e rig$t to learn and to recei'e an education is
balanced wit$ t$e rig$t to en;oy oneAs c$ild$ood1 /$ese aims are pursued based on t$e
realization of t$e following general ob;ecti'es:
4
)nabling $ersons %ith s$ecial needs -t$e e<ceptionally gifted, those %ith learning
difficulties, slo% learners and children %ith Do%n)s syndrome. to ac$ie'e t$eir full
potential, ta&ing account of t$eir mental, p$ysical, spiritual and social resources and
capacities, by integrating t$em into t$e sc$ool education process
Challenges
9 Increasing t$e education budget to &eep pace wit$ rapidly e'ol'ing de'elopments
/raining 8ualified staff to &eep up wit$ c$anges in regard to t$e growing use of an
information tec$nology strategy
Focusing on 8uality in all stages of education, particularly in t$e early years of
de'elopment, w$ic$ are t$e foundation on w$ic$ t$e system rests
De'eloping educational curricula w$ic$ ta&e account of students) individual
differences, different %ays of learning, and differing develo$mental $atterns
among students in all stages of education, and esc$ewing rigid, traditional
teac$ing met$ods based on rote learning and unidirectional learning, as opposed to
practice and e<perimentation
Integrating students in special categories w$o suffer from learning difficulties and
sensory or motor disabilities and paying greater attention to gifted students, using
special met$ods of disco'ery and careB enacting legislation to pro'ide for t$ese
students as a matter of rig$ts, and supplying specialist staff in all areas rele'ant to
persons in special categories
/raining teac$ers w$o are model educators to ma&e 8ualitati'e impro'ements in t$e
conte<t of rapidly e'ol'ing c$anges
/$e need for an integrated approac$ to adolescent reproducti'e $ealt$
22?1 In Cune 5664, t$e H"e FreeI 0enter launc$ed a programme to protect children %ith
s$ecial needs in t$e following categories from abuse: children %ith minor mental
disabilities2 $rofoundly deaf children2 and children %ith $hysical disabilities1 More t$an
566 c$ildren participated in t$e programme1 ( wor&s$op was $eld to educate parents about
$ow to $elp protect children %ith disabilities from abuse and ill>treatment1 O'er @@6
parents too& part1 In 5664 a guide for children %ith visual im$airments on ways to protect
t$emsel'es from abuse was printed in !raille1 In %o'ember 5662, some 3,666 copies were
distributed of a c$ildrenAs publication entitled HI am a smart, strong and safe c$ildI, w$ic$
focuses on t$e s&ills c$ildren need to protect t$emsel'es from abuse9
uggested recommendations from IDA for the Concluding Observations3
/o introduce measures to ensure t$at all c$ildren, including c$ildren wit$ disabilities,
can li'e and be raised in family en'ironments in t$e community, and to eliminate t$e
institutionalisation of c$ildren by building up community based ser'ices and support
-including t$roug$ increased social assistance and welfare benefits. to c$ildren wit$
disabilities and to t$eir families, including foster families1

/o introduce measures to ensure t$at t$e well>being of c$ildren in care, in institutions
and wit$in foster families, is regularly monitored wit$ special attention on t$e rig$t of
t$e c$ild to be $eard, including t$roug$ t$e use of alternati'e communications for
c$ildren wit$ disabilities1
/o adopt measures to ensure t$at all $ealt$ care and ser'ices, pro'ided to young
persons wit$ disabilities, including all mental $ealt$ care and ser'ices and particularly
t$e administration of psyc$otropic medication, is based on t$e free and informed
consent of t$e person concerned, and t$at in'oluntary treatment and confinement are
not permitted by law in accordance wit$ t$e latest international standards1
=
/o address t$e $eig$tened ris& for c$ildren wit$ disabilities, in particular girls, of
becoming 'ictims of 'iolence and abuse, and adopt urgent measures to ensure t$at
bot$ ser'ices and information for 'ictims are made accessible to c$ildren wit$
disabilities li'ing in institutions and t$e community1 /o ensure t$at complaint
mec$anisms are made accessible for c$ildren wit$ disabilities to report 'iolence in t$e
$ome, in sc$ool and care facilities1
/o collect data and statistics on c$ildren wi$ disabiltiies w$ic$ allow to analyze t$e
e<tent of disabilities of di'erse nature and t$e conditions under w$ic$ t$ese c$ildren
grow up1
/o introduce measures in compliance wit$ (rticle :5 0*0 to ensure t$at c$ildren and
young people in mental $ealt$ settings $a'e t$e rig$t and opportunity to freely
e<press t$eir 'iews on matters of treatment, ser'ices and support, and for t$eir 'iews
to be gi'en due weig$t in accordance wit$ t$e age and maturity of t$e c$ild, wit$out
any discrimination based on disability, and t$at t$ey $a'e access to age> and
disability>appropriate support to e<ercise t$ese rig$ts1
/o adopt measures in t$e law to ensure t$e implementation of inclusi'e education of
c$ildren wit$ disabilities, suc$ as t$e obligatory training of all teac$ers -beyond
special education teac$ers., to re8uire indi'idual education plans for all students,
ensure t$e a'ailability of assisti'e de'ices and support in classrooms, educational
materials and curricula, ensure t$e accessibility of p$ysical sc$ool en'ironments,
encourage t$e teac$ing of sign language and disability culture, allocate budget for all
of t$e abo'e1
/o adopt measures to ensure t$at all information, education, $ealt$care and ser'ices
relating to se<ual and reproducti'e $ealt$ are made accessible to boys and girls wit$
disabilities, in age>appropriate formats and t$at t$ey are respectful of t$e dignity and
integrity of persons wit$ disabilities based on t$e free and informed consent of t$e
indi'idual concerned1
/o ratify t$e 0on'ention on t$e *Ig$ts of Persons wit$ Disabilities and its Optional
Protocol1
?