DECIDE: Democracy, Empowerment, PartiCipation and DialoguE
Start and End of Project
April 2015 to July 2016
Chief Researcher
Professor Paula Campos Pinto
Funding
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, through Handicap International
Research Team
| Researcher | Institucional Afiliation |
| Paula Campos Pinto |
CAPP/ISCSP |
| Marcia Rioux |
York University |
| Albino Cunha |
ISCSP |
| Teresa Janela Pinto |
CAPP/ISCSP |
Partners
| Handicap International |
| York University |
| Collectif pour la Promotion des Droits des Personnes en Situation de Handicap au Maroc |
| Organisation Tunisienne de Défense des Droits des Personnes Handicapées |
| Défis et Espoir de la Femme Handicapée de Jijel |
| DEFI contre les Myopathies Tazmalt Bejaia |
| Association Culturelle et d’Insertion des Handicapés Moteurs de la wilaya de Bechar |
| Association El Baraka |
| DEFI Seddouk : Association pour Enfants Inadaptés Mentaux |
| Réseau Algérien des Personnes Handicapés |
Summary
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection and an adequate standard of living is recognized in Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Upon ratification of the CRPD, these countries commit to adjust their juridical, political and social structures in light of the standards of the Convention. Despite this, evidence from studies in the region points to strong constraints that continue to hinder access to this right.
This project responds to this questioning, proposing the development of a comprehensive study on social protection systems in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. This study will search to identify facilitative factors and barriers that compromise access to this right by persons with disabilities in the region, providing clues for future policy development in conformity with the provisions of the CRPD. For this purpose, it will involve:
A systematic analysis of laws, policies and programmes
The application of questionnaires to persons with disabilities
The development of interviews with persons with disabilities
The development of focus groups with family members
This participatory-action-research applies the principles and methodology developed in the context of Disability Rights Promotion International (DRPI), and is grounded on a human rights’ approach to disability that emphasizes the involvement and empowerment of persons with disabilities and their organizations throughout the research process.