As part of the Rosemary Collaboratory Initiative and in alignment with the Global Health Disparities Report, a groundbreaking initiative has taken shape in Morocco with the launch of the Collectif Marocain pour la Promotion du Droit à la Santé des Personnes en Situation de Handicap Mental (PSHM). This national coalition is dedicated to championing equal, inclusive, and dignified healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Officially launched on 25 April 2025, the coalition is guided by a bold vision: a Morocco where individuals with IDD fully enjoy their right to health, well-being, and meaningful participation in society. Over the past few months, the founding eight members collaboratively developed and signed the coalition's charter, laying the foundation for collective advocacy and action. To guide its work, the coalition defined seven guiding elements that shape its identity and strategy:
- Vision: A fully inclusive Morocco where people with IDD thrive in health and life.
- Mission: To influence health systems through accessible, inclusive, and rights-based public policies.
- Core Values: Human rights, equity, inclusion, dignity, ethics, respect, and perseverance.
- Approach: Evidence-based advocacy grounded in gender equity, inclusive participation, and intersectionality.
- Goal: Ensure that the rights of individuals with IDD are embedded in national health strategies.
- Governance: A collaborative model led by a steering committee of NGOs and subject matter experts.
- Open Membership: Welcoming all associations and individuals committed to the cause.
The official launch event was attended by high-level representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Solidarity and Social Inclusion, the Mohamed VI Center for Disability, the National Initiative for Human Development, and Entraide Nationale, all of whom expressed enthusiastic support for the coalition's mission.
Notably, three Health Messengers were present to represent the voices of individuals with ID. Duaa, from Special Olympics Morocco (SOM), delivered a powerful welcome speech on behalf of the organization, reinforcing the urgent need for continued collaboration and investment in inclusive health.
Together, this coalition marks a major step forward in building a just, inclusive, and rights-based health system in Morocco—one where no one is left behind.
