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

Partners

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.

Professor Paula Campos Pinto - Principal Investigator Has a PhD in Sociology by the University of York (Toronto, Canada) and a Masters degree in Familiy Studies by the University of Wisconsin-Madison (US). Assistant Professor at Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas, University of Lisbon. A founder member and coordinator at the Disability and Human Rights Observatory (ODD). Also at ISCSP, she is one of the founders and currently a co-coordinator at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Gender Studies (CIEG). Researcher at the Centre for Public Administration and Public Policies.

Dr Teresa Janela Pinto PhD candidate in Social Policy at Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas, University of Lisbon, where she is developing a thesis on social protection policies for people with disabilities in the Maghreb region at the Centre for Public Administration and Public Policies (CAPP). She has also been a member of the Disability and Human Rights Observatory (ODDH). She is a collaborating researcher at the Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies (CIEG).

Reports

• Pinto, P., Pinto, T., & Cunha, A. (2016). Le Droit à la Protection Sociale des Personnes Handicapées en Algérie. Argel : Handicap International.
• Pinto, P., Pinto, T., & Cunha, A. (2016). Le Droit à la Protection Sociale des Personnes Handicapées en Tunisie. Tunis : Handicap International.
• Pinto, P., Pinto, T., & Cunha, A. (2016). Le Droit à la Protection Sociale des Personnes Handicapées au Maroc. Rabat : Handicap International.
• Pinto, P., Pinto, T., & Cunha, A. (2016). Le Droit à la Protection Sociale des Personnes Handicapées en Algérie, au Maroc et en Tunisie. Rabat : Handicap International.

Communications

• Pinto, P., Pinto, T., & Cunha, A. (2016). Invisible identities: A critical analysis of intersections of gender, culture and disability in the Maghreb. Comunicação realizada na V Conferência da ALTER – European Society for Disability Research, em Estocolomo (Suécia), entre os dias 30 junho – 1 julho de 2016.
• Pinto, P., Pinto, T., & Cunha, A. (2016). From Principles to Practices: A Comparative Analysis of the Enjoyment of the Right to Social Protection in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Comunicação realizada no III Fórum da ISA – International Sociological Association, em Viena (Áustria), entre os dias 10-14 julho de 2016.
• Pinto, P., Pinto, T., & Cunha, A. (2016). Invisible identities: A critical analysis of intersections of gender, culture and disability in the Maghreb. Comunicação realizada no 1º Congresso Internacional do CIEG – Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudos de Género, em Lisboa, entre os dias 25-27 maio de 2016.