mosques, and shops more accessible and user friendly. Inaccessibility of the built environment is a major contributing factor that decreases the number of workplaces available to persons with disabilities. 35. There is no single, highly visible and accessible entry point to all government disability services and support. There is a need for a well structured, streamlined Office for Disability that reports to the Minister of Health and Family. Disability issues require stronger leadership, commitment and a higher profile from and among the Ministries accountable for policy development and service delivery, and those responsible for disability supports. This leadership could be achieved through the establishment of a “Disability Forum” made up of the permanent secretaries of Ministries that could make a critical difference in the lives of disabled people. The Disability Forum could be headed by the Vice President of the Maldives and its members would be held accountable through formal arrangements for the achievement of shared outcomes for the disability sector. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Speed up the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) through developing a national implementation plan. to enable respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and combat stereotypes and prejudices relating to persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture shall be required to demonstrate leadership in this regard. 3. Develop annual work plans to implement the National Disability Policy, and the Minister for Health and Family be required to report annually to Parliament on progress in the implementation of the policy. 4. Develop a national strategy for the reduction of risk factors contributing to disabilities during pregnancy and childhood and take all necessary prevention steps including strengthening and supporting existing family counselling programmes, premarital confidential testing for diseases such as thalassaemia, along with prevention counselling for intra-family marriages. ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 2. Design and conduct a continuing programme to raise societal awareness necessary ... 15