HRCM’s research: Most of Male’ City inaccessible by wheelchair

A research carried out by Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has shown that 79 percent of the areas in Male’ City are inaccessible by wheelchair.

The report formulated following a five-day survey carried out by HRCM to assess whether the roads and buildings in Male’ City are accessible for persons using wheelchairs has now been publicized.

The report states that 79 percent of the areas in Male’ City are inaccessible by wheelchair. This conclusion was reached after surveying buildings that people live in, office buildings where public services are rendered, mosques, bus stops, ferry terminals and other such places.

HRCM’s report states that while such places can only be entered after climbing a step or steps – they lack a built-in slope or a ramp for persons in wheelchairs to use whilst entering and leaving.

As per the report, 53 percent of 441 buildings in Male’ City are wheelchair inaccessible.

Noting that most obstructions to accessibility via wheelchair is observed in Vilimale’ – the report states that 61 percent of the areas in Vilimale’ and 32 percent of areas in Hulhumale’ are wheelchair inaccessible.  

Findings after surveying 756 locations in Male’. Hulhumale’ and Vilimale, show that 55 percent of the roads lacked pavements. Moreover, 33 percent of the existing pavements are too narrow to be accessible by wheelchair.

Therefore, the report said that those using wheelchairs are forced to use the vehicle lane for transportation from one place to another.

The report also highlights that 44 percent of the pavements in Hulhumale’ and 90 percent of the pavements in Vilimale’ lack a ramp or a slope in order for it to be accessible by wheelchair.

HRCM has made 10 recommendations in the report based on their survey.

They include ensuring residences and office buildings where public services are rendered to be wheelchair accessible starting from the design stage, in addition to widening pavements when roads are constructed – with it having a ramp or a slope on each side amongst other things.