Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Thirty-third session

Geneva, 11–29 August 2025

Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 35 of the Convention

Replies of Mali to the list of issues in relation to its initial report *

[Date received: 13 March 2025]

Replies to the list of issues (CRPD/C/MLI/Q/1)

I.Purpose and general obligations (arts. 1–4)

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 1 (a) of the list of issues

1.In the preamble to its new Constitution of 22 July 2023, the Republic of Mali undertakes to guarantee respect for human rights, especially those of women, children and persons with disabilities, which are enshrined in the subregional, regional and international treaties and agreements signed and ratified by Mali.

2.It is also relevant to note Decree No. 2021–5445/MSDS-SG of 23 December 2021 on the organization, composition and operating procedures of the National Committee for Monitoring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

3.During the revision and adoption of the new Code of Criminal Procedure, the following changes were made to take into consideration several provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

Any association or organization registered for at least five years and whose articles of incorporation set out the aim of combating all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities may exercise, as a civil party, the rights accorded to persons with disabilities; however, the admissibility of the complaint is subject to the prior agreement of the person concerned or of their guardian or representative.

Any deaf or hard-of-hearing person must henceforth be assisted by an interpreter during their hearing or interrogation, and it is now permitted to use technical means to communicate with deaf persons and to communicate directly in writing with deaf persons who are able to read and write.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 1 (b) of the list of issues

4.The following activities were undertaken as part of the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Persons with Disabilities 2015–2024:

Annual grants to a number of organizations of persons with disabilities and their umbrella organization, the Malian Federation of Persons with Disabilities

Support for devices

Educational support for children with disabilities

Support for the socioeconomic reintegration of persons with disabilities (return to education, professional training/apprenticeships, funding for micro-initiatives, etc.)

Funding for income-generating activities

Creation of regional orthopaedic centres

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 1 (c) of the list of issues

5.As part of the Government’s workplan, the Ministry of Health and Social Development has begun to review all the legislation governing its bodies and the areas for which it is responsible. A timeline will be drawn up for the review and submission of this legislation to the Secretariat General of the Government for approval in 2024, including Act No. 2018-027 on the rights of persons with disabilities.

II.Specific rights (arts. 5–30)

Article 5

Equality and non-discrimination

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 2 (a) of the list of issues

6.Support is provided for the schooling of children with disabilities at the same schools as other children (promotion of inclusive education).

7.On equality and non-discrimination:

(a)Justice is based on the principles of non-discrimination and equality; all forms of discrimination are therefore prohibited; in the event of discriminatory acts against persons with disabilities, investigations are conducted and sanctions applied in accordance with current legislation;

(b)In the light of these principles, Malian courts do not keep any statistics concerning persons with disabilities, whether they are victims or perpetrators; in order to implement the provisions of the Convention, statistics relating to victims or perpetrators with disabilities will be included in quarterly bulletins.

Article 6

Women with disabilities

8.In the context of the implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, with financial support from the Folke Bernadotte Academy and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), women leaders of organizations of persons with disabilities have received training on topics relating to gender, gender-based violence, human rights and the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali emanating from the Algiers process.

9.A provision on assistance with voting for persons with disabilities has been included in the Electoral Act.

10.On women with disabilities: the new Criminal Code sets out the definition of and punishment for female genital mutilation.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 3 (a) of the list of issues

11.To promote and protect women with disabilities, they are able to access income-generating activities under the same conditions as all women:

At women, children and family centres, they can access a range of training opportunities in different areas under the same conditions as other women; associations of women with disabilities have priority access to the rooms at these venues for their workshops.

Many of them work in areas such as hairdressing, dressmaking, make-up application, beadwork, processing of local products, manicures and pedicures.

Women with disabilities, particularly those with reduced mobility, can use or access basic social facilities.

Women with disabilities are included in the implementation of policies and initiatives for women’s economic empowerment. National and regional empowerment projects and programmes are aimed at all women without discrimination. Examples include the Fund for Women’s Empowerment and Child Development; the Karité project; self-help centres; rural development training and support centres; women, children and family centres; and the Economic Opportunities for Women and Girls project.

Like all women, women with disabilities receive training in all areas relating to the status of women and are involved in all the activities organised by the department and its national and regional bodies.

When days are held to commemorate women, they are treated the same as other women (organizations, meetings, community mobilization, parades, talks, etc.).

When parades are held, especially on International Women’s Day on 8 March, the department provides them with uniforms.

They also belong to other women’s associations working on a range of issues relating to economic, social, political and cultural development, form part of groups of rural women, are involved, alongside other women, in the commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women and in some local offices and are entitled to everything they need in terms of supplies and equipment (individually or through their associations).

They are involved in public and political life, are widely present in public sector organizations, as well as on the National Transition Council and in political parties, and hold leadership roles, unless they have an intellectual impairment.

Ministry for the Advancement of Women, Children and Families/Fund for Women’s Empowerment and Child Development

12.According to the Fund for Women’s Empowerment and Child Development, between 2015 and 2022, the total number of associations of persons with disabilities was 102. The number of direct beneficiaries was 2,040 women and children.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 3 (b) of the list of issues

13.Female genital mutilation is a traditional practice that is harmful to the health of women and girls. It is very widespread in Mali, regardless of religious or ethnic background.

14.In terms of prevention, the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families has taken a number of measures through the national programme to combat gender-based violence:

Information and awareness-raising activities, which reached more than 11,791,571 individuals in 2022, according to the national report. These activities have also led to the signing of 512 local community agreements to abandon excision. In addition, 3,027 public statements against excision were made by prominent figures throughout the country.

356 advocacy activities lobbying the political and administrative authorities to support the fight against gender-based violence.

15.With regard to measures to punish acts of female genital mutilation, the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families made a significant contribution to the revision of the Criminal Code in 2001 in order to include the provisions from the preliminary bill on gender-based violence that criminalize such acts. This is a major step forward during the wait for the bill to be passed. The various conventions signed by Mali and the national legislation protecting women and girls from female genital mutilation have been disseminated on the ground. These include:

The 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which was ratified in 1985

The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified in 1990, and its two Optional Protocols of 2000, which were ratified in 2002

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child of July 1990, which was ratified on 3 June 1998

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), which was adopted in 2003 and came into force in 2005

Act No. 2002-044 of 24 June 2022 on reproductive health

Circular No. 0019/MSPAS-SG of 16 January 1999 from the Minister of Health prohibiting the practice of excision in health facilities

Circular No. 0554 MJ-SG of 12 October 2012 on measures to prosecute cases of abuses following the crisis in northern Mali

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 3 (c) of the list of issues

16.The Association of Women with Disabilities is involved in all major activities undertaken by the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families and its national and regional bodies, including the development of policies, strategies, plans and programmes. It is also one of the umbrella women’s associations. These associations are involved in the department’s activities, including days to celebrate women and activities to support women at all levels. Like other women’s associations, the Association of Women with Disabilities participated in the development of the National Gender Policy and all associated training and capacity-building, from the consultation stage to the adoption of the policy. It also participated in the drafting of Act No. 2015-052 of 18 December 2015 instituting measures to promote gender equality in access to nominated and elected positions. Women with disabilities are making efforts, on the same footing as other women, for the Act to be implemented.

Article 7

Children with disabilities

8,107 children with disabilities in education (in 2020)

Creation of a national unit to combat child labour

Existence of the Malian Coalition for Children’s Rights

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 4 (a) of the list of issues

17.It is important to note that when it comes to protecting children’s rights, there is no discrimination between children. All children have equal rights and duties. They enjoy these rights without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of race, colour, sex, ethnicity, age, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, disability, property, birth or other status.

18.The Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families has made great efforts to ensure favourable legal, institutional, social and cultural environments for the realization of children’s rights in Mali. To this end, several national instruments and development strategies relating to children’s rights have been ratified or adopted, including:

The adoption by the Government of Mali of Ordinance No. 02-062/P-RM of 5 June 2002 on the Child Protection Code

The national policy for the promotion and protection of children and its action plan for 2015–2019

The establishment of the Children’s Parliament, pursuant to Decree No. 96-172/PR-RM of 13 June 1996

Specific considerations concerning children with disabilities

19.In terms of educational provision, children with physical, intellectual or sensory impairments are taught at specialized institutions, in integrated classes and at mainstream schools designed to be inclusive.

20.There are 11 special education establishments, which are unevenly distributed across the national territory.

Pouponnière Reception and Family Placement Centre

21.There were a total of 137 children (67 boys and 70 girls) at the Reception and Family Placement Centre as of 31 October 2023. Among them, 57 children (29 boys and 28 girls) had a disability.

22.The children with disabilities in care were aged 0–30 years old.

Children’s City

23.The Children’s City facility and its activities are aimed at encouraging the participation of children with special needs (children with disabilities). In some spaces, ramps have been installed to facilitate access for this group of children. Access to these spaces is free of charge for children with disabilities. The categories of children with disabilities who attend the Children’s City include:

Children with a visual impairment

Children with a hearing impairment

Children with albinism

Children with an intellectual impairment

Children with Down syndrome

Children with a physical impairment

24.Children with disabilities participate fully in the following activities organized by the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families:

Bamako children’s fair

Children’s leisure week in Bamako

Commemorative days

Sports, cultural and artistic activities

25.Since 2020, the Children’s City has mobilized around 2,000 children with disabilities.

Article 9

Accessibility

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 6

26.For the construction of public buildings and facilities, the technical departments of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure ensure the correct implementation of accessibility measures for persons with disabilities when reviewing the technical files of relevant construction plans. Accessibility criteria for persons with disabilities are met through the installation of the following equipment and facilities:

Access ramps in public buildings and facilities

Adapted toilets for persons with disabilities in such buildings

Footbridges for road crossings

Audible signals and floor markings

27.For air transportation, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure complies with international air transportation instruments. Under the National Air Transport Facilitation Programme, every possible measure is taken to ensure accessibility and mobility for persons with disabilities. The following are in place:

Equipment to facilitate the transportation of persons with disabilities, including wheelchairs and lifting equipment for loading and unloading several wheelchairs

Qualified personnel to provide assistance to persons with disabilities at check-in

28.With regard to river transportation, the following measures have been taken:

Free travel (not including food) for persons with visual impairments in deluxe, first-, second- and third-class cabins

Half-fare for persons with severely reduced mobility (including wheelchair users) and persons who are hard of hearing (including deaf-mute persons)

Free fourth-class travel for persons with any type of disability

29.For rail transportation, efforts are being made to facilitate access for persons with disabilities. However, it should be noted that:

Railway stations do not meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities

Railway carriages are not suitable for certain categories of persons with disabilities, particularly persons with a physical impairment who use a wheelchair

There are currently preferential rates for all passengers in certain circumstances

30.To improve road safety, a partnership has been set up with the Malian Federation of Persons with Disabilities. Training sessions and road safety awareness days are organized for persons with disabilities in collaboration with the Federation. In addition, training sessions are organized for drivers on how to respect the rights of persons with disabilities in road traffic.

31.With regard to accessibility, all new court buildings now feature ramps for persons with motor impairments. Efforts are being made to make older buildings accessible.

32.Training on road safety rules was delivered to 200 persons with disabilities in the Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou and Mopti regions between 15 and 17 May 2023 and to 100 persons with disabilities in Bamako on 18 May 2023.

33.In addition, respect for the rights of persons with disabilities in road traffic is an integral part of road safety training modules for drivers.

Article 10

Right to life

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 7

34.On the right to life, express provision is made in law for special proceedings for dealing with ritual crime, which deviate from those provided for in ordinary law.

35.Legal and other measures taken to protect persons with disabilities are set out in, inter alia, the Constitution of Mali, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Article 11

Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies

36.The third strategic area of focus in the 2016 Humanitarian Action Policy is aimed at promoting special measures to protect vulnerable people during emergencies, in particular women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

37.Organizations of persons with disabilities are members of the National Council for Humanitarian Action, which was created in November 2015 pursuant to Decree No. 0694/PM-RM of 5 November 2015.

38.With regard to assistance provided to persons internally displaced as a result of armed conflict or disaster, particular attention is paid to vulnerable persons, including those with disabilities.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 8 (a)

39.As part of the early warning mechanism, the Directorate General for Civil Protection has taken steps to ensure that disaster risk information is accessible to all persons with disabilities. These include:

The development of the SOS SÉCURITÉ telephone application, with visual and voice capabilities in three national languages and icons for sending and receiving alerts

The production of guides and posters in three national languages

The production of cartoons and radio messages

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 8 (b)

40.With regard to the measures taken to incorporate the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 into all laws and policies in the implementation of the national disaster risk reduction strategy and to involve persons with disabilities, the Directorate General for Civil Protection has taken the initiative to revise the strategy and its action plan with a view to adapting it to the Sendai Framework. The Directorate General also conducts an annual review of the national multi-hazard contingency plan, which includes a gender perspective.

Article 12

Equal recognition before the law

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 9

Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons with disabilities

Decree No. 2021-0662/PT-RM of 23 September 2021, setting out the procedures for implementing Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons with disabilities

Article 13

Access to justice

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 10

41.On access to justice:

(a)Currently, national legislation contains no procedural arrangements for persons with disabilities with regard to legal costs. However, as part of the review of the decree on court fees for civil, commercial and social proceedings, there are plans to make adjustments that will benefit persons with disabilities;

(b)Most legal buildings, including courts and tribunals, have access ramps.

42.With regard to universal accessibility at its public facilities, the Directorate General for Civil Protection has adopted a standard construction plan that takes into account accessibility for persons with disabilities.

43.The following accessibility measures are in place at police stations:

State-level adoption of accessibility standards for police stations

Partnership between the police and the Malian Federation of Persons with Disabilities

Article 14

Liberty and security of the person

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 11 (a), (b) and (c)

44.In 2021 and 2022, more than 200 social workers were trained on gender-based violence and human rights, taking into account the specific rights of persons with disabilities.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 11 (d)

45.With regard to liberty and security of the person, no statistics are available on persons with disabilities deprived of their liberty. However, there are plans to include a section on statistics on persons with disabilities in quarterly bulletins in the future.

Article 15

Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 12

46.With regard to the right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the following should be noted:

(a)Legislation conforming to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is in force in Mali;

(b)No relevant statistics are collected. However, there are plans to include a section on statistics on persons with disabilities in quarterly bulletins in the future.

47.The measures taken to put an end to all forms of violence include:

Providing greater protection for victims of violence through reporting mechanisms

Raising public awareness

Imposing stiffer penalties on the perpetrators of such violence

Article 16

Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 13 (a) and (b)

48.During the Month of Solidarity and Struggle against Exclusion, activities were conducted to raise awareness among the general population on the rights of persons with disabilities, including the right to be protected from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 13 (c)

49.With regard to the right to freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse, articles 324 to 347 of the draft Criminal Code now stipulate that, in respect of the offence of migrant smuggling, aggravating circumstances are considered to apply if the victim has an intellectual or physical impairment (Ministry of Justice and Human Rights).

50.The mechanisms available to persons with disabilities who are victims of exploitation, violence or abuse are:

Article 5 of Act No. 2018-027 on the rights of persons with disabilities, which states that persons with disabilities enjoy special protection from the State

Victims of such violence are also entitled to legal assistance from one-stop service centres

Article 17

Protecting the integrity of the person

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 14 (b)

51.With regard to provisions to ban female genital mutilation in Mali, the Ministry for the Advancement of Women, Children and Families, with support from civil society stakeholders and development partners, has been working on the preliminary draft of a bill to combat gender-based violence since 2017. The document was solemnly delivered to the Minister for the Advancement of Women, Children and Families, in the presence of the then Minister for Justice and Human Rights, for further action. The draft has been explained in many places around the country.

52.Following the creation of the national programme to combat gender-based violence, other steps have included:

The holding of two preparatory workshops, on 4 and 5 June 2020, to update the road map that had been drawn up to accompany the bill. These workshops provided an opportunity to take stock of the road map in terms of achievements.

The revision of the Criminal Code was an opportunity in respect of all punitive laws currently being drafted or adopted. To this end, and in the context of the national programme to combat gender-based violence, three workshops were held with the Legislative Standing Commission, which is composed of key stakeholders, including judges, lawyers and criminal investigation police officers, who were involved in the review of the Criminal Code, in order to provide a better understanding of the bill and the concepts of gender-based violence, the types or forms thereof and the current situation of gender-based violence in Mali. The Commission identified shortcomings in the text and made proposals for improvements and recommendations. The process also led to the inclusion of provisions on the punishment of gender-based violence in the draft Criminal Code.

Advocacy sessions have already been held with the National Transition Council, the High Council of Local Authorities and the Economic and Social Council, not only to continue awareness-raising activities on gender-based violence with a view to adopting legislation, but also to maintain contact with these key bodies in the fight to overcome gender-based violence.

Activities to promote the adoption of a law on gender-based violence are continuing, including in the form of advocacy, information, awareness-raising and capacity-building by public services, the private sector, civil society, international non‑governmental organizations and the United Nations system, to name but a few. The document is still in draft form, and interested parties are welcome to suggest improvements.

Article 18

Liberty of movement and nationality

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 15

53.The civil registry system was disrupted during the acute period of the crisis and remains so in some locations that continue to be affected.

54.However, the measures taken to implement the action plan accompanying the national strategy on civil registration, as well as the bill aimed at extending the registration period for children who were born in affected locations during the crisis and not registered, are intended to promote respect for human rights and strengthen the resilience of the country’s civil registration system.

55.In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the National Director of Civil Registration and the President of the National Association of Municipalities on 5 August 2022 and by the Director General of Health and the President of the National Federation of Community Health Associations on 9 August 2022. It applies to the main stakeholders in the civil registration system, namely the National Directorate for Civil Registration, the General Directorate for Public Health, the National Federation of Community Health Associations and the National Association of Municipalities, and is aimed at the deployment of community health officers as village registration officers. Under the initiative, immunization officers, rural matrons, nutrition support groups, traditional birth attendants and Mama Yeelen (community awareness-raising volunteers) would also be involved in registering births and deaths in the Republic of Mali. These measures have helped to mitigate the impact of the crisis on access to civil registration services, particularly for persons with disabilities.

56.Other measures include:

Setting up village ledgers to collect data on births and deaths

Identification of children born during the crisis

57.These measures have facilitated the following activities:

Civil registration at registration centres in health facilities

The organization of mobile registration sessions, which enabled more than a million children to obtain a birth certificate

Equipping civil registration centres with registration kits and providing them with registers and printed matter

Raising public awareness of the importance and usefulness of civil registration documents through public debates organized by the National Directorate for Civil Registration, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in the Timbuktu and Gao regions

The drafting of a bill to facilitate the issuance of birth certificates to all children born during the crisis in the affected regions

58.Some of these activities were carried out by groups of local non-governmental organizations that had been trained by managers from the National Directorate for Civil Registration in the use of tools for collecting civil registration data.

59.The National Directorate for Civil Registration stands ready to adjust measures or implement new ones in response to changes in context, with a view to meeting users’ needs.

Article 19

Living independently and being included in the community

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 16 (a)

60.As part of the implementation of the recommendations from the national forum on accessibility of buildings for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility, the National Directorate for Urban Planning and Housing is sending an information note to its central and satellite offices instructing them to take all necessary steps to apply the General Standards on accessibility of buildings for persons with disabilities, as set out in the Building Code of 31 December 2003 (cf. special and closing provisions, chapter 4, article 23 of Decree No. 02-511/P-RM).

61.The aim is to encourage stakeholders to take an interest in integrating disability into basic infrastructure projects. Particular attention is paid to ramps and other means of access for persons with disabilities so that they can access and use basic facilities as independently as possible.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 16 (b)

62.Social housing for persons with disabilities is integrated into housing developments for other people. There are no distinguishing features that identify the houses.

Article 20

Personal mobility

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 17

63.To support the mobility of persons with disabilities, each year the State provides approximately 200 motorized and pedal tricycles to students and young graduates with disabilities, as well as to women and girls with disabilities working in small businesses, who need to get around.

64.Efforts are under way to design platforms, stations and transport infrastructure with persons with disabilities in mind.

65.Measures are being taken in application of the implementing decree for Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 to ensure that infrastructure and railway equipment modernization programmes take into account the standards laid down regarding personal mobility for persons with disabilities.

66.For river transport, provisions are made for access by persons with reduced mobility, as the current layout of boats means that upper decks and cabin doors are not accessible for persons with very reduced mobility.

Article 21

Freedom of expression of opinion and access to information

67.The communication department has an initiative for persons with a hearing or visual impairment:

For persons who are hard of hearing, the department ensures the use of sign language during the ORTM news programme

For persons with a visual impairment, it has introduced the use of Braille computers

Article 22

Respect for privacy

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 19

68.In application of the provisions of the Constitution of Mali, a law on the protection of personal data has been adopted and has entered into force. Its aim is to protect the right to privacy without discrimination.

Article 23

Respect for home and the family

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 20

69.The Personal and Family Code and the Child Protection Code guarantee for persons with disabilities the same adoption rights as other people.

70.The Ministry for the Advancement of Women, Children and Families has drawn up the National Policy for the Advancement of Families and its action plan (2016–2020).

Article 24

Education

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 21 (a)

71.Within the Ministry of Education, a national department with responsibility for education for children with disabilities was created in 2011. The department has two separate divisions for inclusive education and special education.

72.The second edition of the Decennial Education and Professional Training Programme (PRODEC 2019–2028) provides for the development of a national policy document on inclusive education.

73.It is worth noting that disability-related data has been integrated into the Education Sector Information and Management System.

74.2021: For a long time, the official data collected and disseminated by the Planning and Statistics Unit for the education sector contained little information on children with disabilities and other disability-related issues in the education system.

75.The Ministry of Education has drawn up the input template for the complementary data-collection questionnaire on disability, in line with the pre-identified categories, namely, identification of children with disabilities, physical and material barriers to learning, human resources and measures to ensure that students succeed. From now on, these data will systematically be available for any purpose, with a particular focus on educational planning.

76.In February 2023, all data-collection tools used by the Ministry of Education were reviewed, and the inclusive education dimension was integrated into all types and levels of education.

77.Thanks to funding from UNICEF, the Dakar office of the International Institute for Educational Planning, which is part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), organized a training course for a number of African countries, including Mali. Officials from the National Directorate for Inclusive Education and the Planning and Statistics Unit have been trained in this area, thereby ensuring that children with disabilities will be taken into account in future planning.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 21 (b)

78.Capacity-building for education staff in disability awareness:

With technical and financial support from non-governmental organizations (Humanity and Inclusion and Sightsavers)

520 teachers from teacher-training colleges in Mali, pedagogical advisers and primary school teachers receive regular training and updates on inclusive education

Training of 100 teachers to enable them to conduct screenings for visual impairment in schools

14,000 children were screened for visual impairment and those found to have visual problems were referred to the relevant services for medical treatment

90 officials from the central services of the Ministry of Education have also been trained in inclusive education

90 per cent of teachers at special schools are civil servants working for the State or local authorities

Organization of several refresher courses for teachers in special education institutions

Support for special schools in the form of teaching supplies and materials

Creation of posts for special education officers and pedagogical advisers to provide pedagogical follow-up at teaching academies and educational outreach centres

Between 2020 and 2022, the adaptation of the AGRA and PASSEC assessment tools for students with sensory (visual or hearing) impairments/ make the assessment tool accessible for children who are blind or deaf

79.In a pilot experiment, 43 deaf and 13 blind children were enrolled in school and provided with educational support. Their enrolment has been made possible thanks in particular to a system of itinerant teachers who provide support for students and non‑specialist inclusion teachers in the relevant schools.

80.In 2020, the Ministry of Education was provided with a sign-language training manual for educators that has been adapted to the country’s socioeducational realities, with the aim of promoting the enrolment and participation of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

81.In addition, in 2022, a learning outcomes assessment was conducted at the Sikasso educational outreach centre in respect of 56 deaf and blind students enrolled in 19 mainstream schools, and in 2023 an exercise was conducted to identify children with disabilities between the ages of 6 and 10 years who were not in school or who had dropped out of school, with a view to enrolling them.

82.After a similar exercise in 18 mainstream schools in Sikasso, educational advisers and teachers are being trained in sign language and Braille at the Timbuktu educational outreach centre. Those learning sign language will have the skills to welcome and provide support to children who are hard of hearing in mainstream classes. Those learning Braille will be able to do the same with children with visual impairments. These measures, which are conducive to inclusive education, are implemented with support from Humanity and Inclusion. Educational resources to support inclusive education and distance learning in 2020 and 2021 have also been produced.

83.Distance learning, introduced in the context of coronavirus disease, was mostly not accessible for children with disabilities, in particular visual or hearing impairments. The resources that have been developed with support from specialists in Braille or sign language are likely to benefit these children.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 21 (c)

Building classrooms in specialized centres

84.With funding from the Special Investment Budget, the National Directorate for Preschool and Special Education, which is part of the Ministry of Education, has built school facilities for all levels, from preschool to secondary, for children with disabilities in Bamako, Sikasso and Ségou.

85.Two vocational training centres offering carpentry, woodwork, sewing and hairdressing courses have been built at the schools for persons who are hard of hearing in Sikasso and Yiguya Kalanso in the Bamako District.

86.The Malian Union for Blind Persons has consistently provided support to the schools for persons who are hard of hearing in the form of Braille paper, Cubarithms, styluses and other equipment. It has also provided food for school canteens in specialized institutions and continually advocated for the canteens to be run by the National Centre for School Canteens.

Draft legislation

87.The new draft organic law setting out the terms and conditions for the use of national languages as the official languages of Mali includes sign language and Braille.

Article 25

Health

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 22

Implementation of Act No. 2018/074 of 31 December 2018 on the Universal Health Insurance Scheme

Creation of the National Office for Reproductive Health, which will take specific measures to address the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women with disabilities

Ongoing operation of the National Orthopaedic Fitting Centre

Article 27

Work and employment

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 24 (a)

88.In the action plan accompanying the 2015–2027 National Employment Policy, a budget of 600 million CFA francs (CFAF) was earmarked to help persons with disabilities secure employment.

89.In June 2020, the National Employment Agency launched a three-year nationwide employment programme for persons with disabilities with a total budget of CFAF 250 million. The programme is focused on individual and/or group initiatives by persons with disabilities and began in October 2023 as part of Solidarity Month. The following results are expected at the end of the programme:

163 very small, small or medium-sized enterprises created

382 jobs generated

90.The vocational training programmes offered by the Agency for the Promotion of Youth Employment also take account of persons with disabilities. The thirteenth programme was launched on 23 November 2023; among the 748 male participants, 4 had a disability, and among the 1,252 female participants, 11 had a disability.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 24 (b)

91.Disability-based discrimination in hiring and dismissals is prohibited by the following texts:

Constitution of 23 July 2023, in particular articles 1, 2 and 10

Act No. 02-054 of 16 December 2002 establishing the General Civil Service Regulations

Act No. 2017-021 of 12 June 2017 amending Act No. 92-020 of 23 September 1992 on the Labour Code in the Republic of Mali, in particular new article L4

Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons with disabilities, in particular articles 5, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19

Decree No. 2021-0662/PT-RM of 23 September 2021, setting out the procedures for implementing Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons with disabilities

Article 28

Adequate standard of living and social protection

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 25

92.All current social safety net programmes are aimed at persons with disabilities.

Article 29

Participation in political and public life

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 26

93.The following texts govern the participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life:

Act No. 2022-019 of 24 June 2022 on the Electoral Code, article 103 of which allows persons with disabilities to vote

Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons with disabilities

94.In accordance with the provisions of articles 20 and 21 of Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons with disabilities, the conditions are in place to facilitate access to polling stations for persons with disabilities and enable them to vote without hindrance. To this end, electoral procedures, equipment and materials must be appropriate for and accessible to persons with disabilities.

95.In addition, Act No. 2022-019 of 24 June 2022, as amended, on electoral law, makes it easier for voters with disabilities to be assisted by a voter of their choosing if their disability makes it impossible for them to make their selection or place their ballot paper in the ballot box.

96.The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization is keen to ensure that persons with disabilities are included in political and public life and is considering further measures to facilitate their access and encourage their participation in the management of public affairs when the electoral law is next revised.

Article 30

Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 27

97.The strategy in place to ensure that persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, can participate in inclusive sporting, leisure and cultural activities includes the construction of adapted centres and the adoption of legislation, for example:

Construction of a gymnasium for athletes with disabilities

Act No. 2017-037 of 14 July 2017 regulating physical and sporting activities and its implementing decree No. 2019-0758/P-RM of 30 September 2019

Ministerial decree on rewards for elite athletes, including athletes with disabilities

Recognition of the Malian Federation of Sports for Persons with Disabilities by the Ministry of Sport, allowing it to receive technical and financial support for the organization of national championships and participate in national and international games and competitions on the same footing as other sports federations affiliated with the Ministry of Sport

Establishment of regional sports leagues for persons with disabilities in all regions

Theatre or music groups within the majority of large associations of persons with disabilities

Provision of State support to 241 athletes with disabilities in 2023

Programme of priority activities

Malian Federation of Sports for Persons with Disabilities

98.The Federation brings together all sporting disciplines for persons with different forms of disability, including football for persons with visual or hearing impairments, athletics for persons with albinism, tricycle, javelin, shot-put and discus for persons with reduced mobility, weightlifting and other types of parasport.

99.Each year, the Federation is included in the annual decision-making in respect of priority activities at the National Directorate for Sports and Physical Education in the same way as other federations.

100.For 2023, the selected activities, which have been allocated funding amounting to CFAF 149,396,000, include the following:

Participation in the Marrakech International Meet in Morocco in March 2023 with 12 athletes and a provisional budget of CFAF 22 million (medal tally: seven, including three gold)

Participation in the Para Athletics World Championships in Paris, France, in July with five athletes and a budget of CFAF 26,823,000 (participants did not attend due to visa problems)

Participation in the Blind Football World Championships in England in August with 15 athletes and a provisional budget of CFAF 46,981,000 (participants travelled to Dakar but could not attend due to visa problems)

Participation in the Para Weightlifting World Championships in Dubai in November 2023 with four athletes and a budget of CFAF 20 million

Participation of the national deaf football team in the African Deaf Cup for the Economic Community of West African States in Abidjan in September 2023 with a budget of CFAF 10 million, despite the fact that the activity had not been planned, with the subregional title

101.It should be noted that the department responsible for the Special Olympics this year allocated CFAF 23,592,000 for participation in women’s basketball at the World Games in Berlin, Germany.

102.Although parasport also benefits from an annual subsidy for the organization of the national championship, this component has been temporarily frozen since the introduction of budgetary restrictions.

III.Specific obligations (arts. 31–33)

Article 31

Statistics and data collection

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 28

Disability is taken into account in the sectoral plans and programmes of the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training

Statistical data are available on graduates with disabilities who have joined the Malian Federation of Persons with Disabilities and are seeking employment

A register of persons with disabilities is in place

Information on disability is included in the 2022 general population and housing census

Article 32

International cooperation

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 29

103.In terms of international cooperation, the Malian Federation of Persons with Disabilities receives ad hoc funding in response to calls for proposals from technical and financial partners.

104.As part of the implementation of the 2022–2024 Country Programme of Cooperation between Mali and the United Nations Population Fund, the Fund signed an agreement with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation to implement a project to strengthen equitable access to comprehensive social and health services in Mali and Senegal for persons with disabilities.

105.The aim of the project is to contribute to the inclusive and comprehensive development of persons with disabilities in Mali and Senegal, with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the Convention.

106.The overall objective of the project is to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities in Mali and Senegal and provide them with equitable, inclusive and comprehensive access to quality social and health services.

107.The project has three intended outcomes:

Outcome 1: The national legislative and institutional framework on the rights of persons with disabilities in Mali are strengthened and their specific needs are included in policy documents

Outcome 2: Comprehensive health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, are increased for persons with disabilities in Mali

Outcome 3: Women and young persons with disabilities are increasingly empowered in Mali

Article 33

National implementation and monitoring

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 30

108.The State has provided the Malian Federation of Persons with Disabilities with modern headquarters.

109.The Government has signed a cooperation agreement with the Malian Federation of Persons with Disabilities as part of the Health and Social Development Programme.