5. NATIONAL POLICIES AND PLANS 5.1 National Disability Policy In 2007, the Government developed a draft of the necessary policy instrument to address the rights of persons with disabilities. Draft National Disability Policy is based on the human rights-based approach rather than the previous charity approach (MGF 2007). The policy promotes equality for all Maldivian people and stipulates 16 principles that need to be adhered to. The policy specifies awareness raising; access to information and communication; participation of persons with disabilities; and community based rehabilitation as key cross cutting strategies. It has detailed strategies and policy directions that should be followed in health, education, employment, social security and sports and recreation. It provides the activities necessary to ensure that everyone can independently move from one side of the road to the other; see road signs, read directions, hear announcements, reach buttons; and open doors. It recognizes the need for standards for accessibility in transport and inclusion of specific standards in the building code. Many of the public and private buildings and other spaces remain largely inaccessible. The houses, schools, mosques, workplaces, shops, and banks have been designed and built for