8. The Government submitted to Parliament a bill on 20 July 2009 to operationalize protection and special assistance to persons with disabilities specified in Article 35 (b) of the Constitution. The bill on “Protecting the Rights of People with Special Needs and Providing Financial Assistance” was passed by the Parliament on 21 December 2009. However, the President returned the bill on 05 January 2010 for reconsideration by the Parliament. The President did not ratify the bill onto law because it was found crucial to amend the bill in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). 9. In 2007, the Government developed a human rights based National Disability Policy to address the rights of persons with disabilities (MGF 2007). Persons with disabilities were consulted extensively in the formulation of the draft National Disability Policy. An Action Plan for Children with Disabilities 2008-2013 developed by the Child and Family Protection Authority was introduced in July 2008 (MGF 2008). 10. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) “Aneh Dhivehi Raajje” Strategic Action Plan 2009-2013 adopted in November 2009 also has several policies and strategies that are related to the rights of persons with disabilities (President’sOffice 2009). The strategies include: developing and establishing a ‘minimum social protection package’; strengthening delivery mechanisms of social assistance; establishing state care institutions including education sector has included a specific policy on special education needs in the Strategic Action Plan 2009-2013. The Eighth Policy of education sector is to: “increase and expand educational opportunities for children with special needs including the gifted and talented”. The health sector has given priority in the Strategic Action Plan 2009-2013 to prevent and control mental illnesses, disabilities and injuries. 11. The government focal agency for support and services for persons with disabilities is the Ministry of Health and Family. The mandate for institutional care is given to the Department of Gender and Family Protection Services (DGFPS). 12. Children with disabilities in the Maldives did not have access to education within the education system until 1985 when Jamaluddin School in Male’ started enrolling hearing impaired children. The Government started setting up special education classes in 2006 with a vision to establish a minimum of one school in each atoll that enrols children with ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES after care programs; and strengthening the legislative framework for alternative care. The ... 9