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National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2009 in reply to the 2004 direct request. The Government indicates that, with a view to accelerating the adoption of the Bill on the social protection of persons with disabilities, the Malian Association of Disabled Jurists has undertaken a series of activities including: in 2006, the holding of a national training workshop on institutional diagnostics and organizational strengthening; in 2007, a national forum for exchanges entitled “Scope and impact of legal support for the rights of persons with disabilities”; and in 2009, the preparation of a legal brief which was broadly disseminated. The Government adds that in 2002 a total of 200 tricycles were provided to persons with disabilities and in 2005 a total of 6,336 persons with disabilities were equipped. Between 2004 and 2006, 23 associations and NGOs working in the field of disability and four special educational institutions benefited from financial support. The Government also refers to Decision No. 0192 of 31 July 2008 of the Ministry of Health establishing, organizing and determining the functions of a national implementing commission for the National Community-based Rehabilitation Programme and the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee hopes to be able to examine in the Government’s next report new information on the progress achieved with a view to ensuring that a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities has been established (Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention). The Committee invites the Government to include information on the impact that the measures adopted have had on the integration into the labour market of workers with disabilities including persons with mental disabilities. Please also provide relevant documents containing statistics, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Article 4 of the Convention. Equality of opportunity and treatment. The Government refers in its report to section 18(1) of the General Conditions of Service of the Public Service, which guarantees equality of opportunity and treatment for persons with disabilities while promoting the adoption of special affirmative measures for them. The Committee notes that, in the context of collaboration between the Ministry of the Public Service and the Malian Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities, between 1997 and 2009, 241 young disabled graduates, including 86 women and 155 men, were integrated into the public service. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the practical measures adopted or envisaged to ensure equality of opportunity between disabled workers and other workers in general, and between men and women workers with disabilities.

Article 5. Consultation of the social partners. The Government indicates that representative organizations of persons with disabilities are regularly consulted through meetings, correspondence or working sessions. The Malian Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities participated in the work of the National Workshop on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in November 2007 and March 2009. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the effect given to the recommendations adopted by workshops in which representative organizations of persons with disabilities are involved. It also invites the Government to indicate the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted on matters relating to the implementation of the Convention.

Article 7. Services accessible to persons with disabilities. The Government refers in its report to the National Institute for the Training of Social Workers (INFTS) and the National Health Training Institute (INFS) among the institutions which take disability into account in their work programmes. The Committee requests the Government to describe the programmes undertaken by the institutes referred to above, as well as other services intended to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 8. Accessible services in rural areas and remote communities. The Government indicates that a national community-based programme has been developed for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in rural areas. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the implementation of this programme and its impact in ensuring the establishment of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities residing in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Suitably qualified staff. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure the availability of suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff, as provided for in Article 9 of the Convention.