Tenth General Assembly of African Union of the Blind held in Rabat

The 10th General Assembly of the African Union of the Blind (AFUB) is held in Rabat this October 27-30, under the theme “Unity and solidarity”.

This General Assembly, held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, aims to draw inspiration from and highlight distinguished African and international experiences, capable of contributing to the achievement of the empowerment of the blind at the continental level so that they can play an active role within their society, their country, and their continent.

During the opening session, attended by Princess Lalla Lamia Essolh, President of the Alaouite Organization for the Promotion of the Blind in Morocco (OAPAM), secretary general of the organization recalled in an address that “Morocco was one of the first countries to adopt a series of legislations relating to the protection of the rights of the blind and visually impaired.” Since the creation of the OAPAM in 1967, her president Princess Lamia Essolh has worked tirelessly for achievements in favor of the blind and the visually impaired, regardless of their age and level of education, he recalled.

The aim is to enable totally or partially blind people to benefit from the right to education and social support, and to invest their skills and intellectual abilities in collaboration with all the departments concerned, he added.

This meeting reflects Morocco’s constant commitment to a supportive and active South-South cooperation, and it also reflects the firm determination of the Sovereign to further deepen the relations linking Morocco to its home continent, Africa, particularly regarding the guarantee and consolidation of the rights of people with specific needs, including visually impaired people.

The event features a series of round-table discussions on the integration of this category into socio-economic life, meetings of the various AFUB bodies, and the election of the Union’s president and vice-president.