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The Elimination of Architectural and Urban Barriers Plan

Status
completed
100%
City

La Paz

Main actors

Local Government

Project area

Whole City/Administrative Region

Duration

2018 - 2022

The incorporation of an inclusive perspective in the delivery of works, services and activities carried out by the Autonomous Municipal Government of La Paz. 

The Elimination of Architectural and Urban Barriers Plan (EBAU) aims to eliminate architectural barriers in buildings and spaces under construction in addition to providing greater accessibility to municipal citizen services by using universal accessibility criteria. The plan is based on the principles and values of non-discrimination, accessibility, reasonable adaptations, progressiveness, gender complementarity, plurality and diversity, inclusive dialogue and transversality.

This case study was contributed from the UCLG Learning team.

Peer-Learning Note #30 on Building Cities for All (forthcoming).

For further information about the case study, click here.

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all agesEnsure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for allBuild resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovationReduce inequality within and among countriesMake cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainablePromote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
City
La Paz, Bolivia
Size and population development
La Paz has a population of 852,438 inhabitants (2017), increasing at a rate of 2.35% per year. Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in Latin America, with significant problems in the areas of health, housing, education, income and employment.
Population composition
The major part of the population is of mixed white and Amerindian ancestry. Bolivia's Constitution designates Spanish and 36 indigenous languages as the official languages of the country.
Main functions
La Paz is the government seat of the "Plurinational State of Bolivia" and the world's highest administrative capital (at 3,650m above sea level). After Santa Cruz de la Sierra and El Alto, La Paz is the third most populous city of the country. Together with the cities of El Alto and Viacha, the metropolitan area of La Paz has a population of 2.3 million inhabitants and forms the most populous urban area in Bolivia. 25% of Bolivia's GDP is produced in La Paz, where many Bolivian companies have their headquarters.
Main industries / business
The economy of La Paz is based primarily on food processing and the manufacturing of textiles, clothing, shoes, and chemicals.
Sources for city budget
Political structure
La Paz Municipality is the capital municipality and one of the five municipalities of the Pedro Domingo Murillo Province in the La Paz Department in Bolivia.
Administrative structure
La Paz has seven districts, subdivided in a large number of neighbourhoods. Two districts in La Paz are rural.
Website
http://www.lapaz.bo

An analysis of the current situation in the Municipal Autonomous Government of La Paz (GAMLP) in terms of inclusion and elimination of architectural barriers showed the following:

  • 8% of the executive and technical team did not know the regulations related to this issue 
  • there is no specific law in the municipality for universal accessibility
  • GAMLP services are still inaccessible or not very inclusive, 
  • GAMLP units do not have accessible information signage.

The objectives of the EBAU Plan are:

  1. progressively achieve the elimination of architectural barriers
  2. establish and implement a training program for the organizational units of GAMLP on the treatment of people with disabilities and the regulations to be used to eliminate architectural barriers in services and points of care
  3. improve the municipal transportation service ensuring full accessibility
  4. eliminate communication barriers in points of care, and other aspects.

The first stage of the initiative lasted approximately two months.  

The Intersectoral Committee for Universal Accessibility is comprised of representatives from municipal authorities and people from the community who have disabilities. The main task of this Committee was to execute the EBAU Plan, generate strategic guidelines and develop a Municipal Universal Accessibility Law to be presented to Council. 

A meeting was held with municipal officials representing all the organizational units of GAMLP to inform them about the EBAU plan.  Workshops were held on current disability regulations, and another workshop was organized to raise awareness of the appropriate treatment of people with disabilities. An agreement was reached to hold quarterly meetings and to follow up on the compliance of the EBAU plan.

On October 30, 2018, the Intersectoral Committee for Universal Accessibility was sworn in by Councilwoman President Andrea Cornejo, and the EBAU Plan was presented to the citizens through media outlets (radio, television, newspapers).

As for the financing of the EBAU plan, it was planned to be part of the municipal Annual Operating Program. At the same time, it was planned to make the plan known to international cooperation agencies in order to obtain the necessary resources for its implementation.

  1. According to estimates of the municipal government, the EBAU Plan would benefit 16,000 people with disabilities and more than 90,000 elderly adults living in the municipality of La Paz.
  2. The issue of accessibility was included in the municipal agenda.  
  3. The Intersectoral Committee for Universal Accessibility was formed. 
  4. Presentation of the EBAU plan to the media and citizens.
  5. A commitment was made to work on drafting a new municipal law on universal accessibility.  

Changing the way citizens think about disability and accessibility was the biggest challenge.  There was a common belief that implementing city works services and activities that are inclusive and accessible cities would be expensive. For this reason, practical and theoretical workshops on disability and the appropriate treatment of people with disabilities were held. Additionally, the lack of knowledge about disability, inclusion, accessibility and regulations within GAMLP was one of the obstacles identified. 

On November 10, 2019, after 3 weeks of civil protests following the disputed general election, there was a political and social crisis in Bolivia. By the time stability had returned COVID -19 was impacting the country and citizens were in quarantine for months. As a result, the execution of the EBAU plan was affected as the priorities of government at all levels had changed.

Among the lessons learned is that both the authorities and the general population need to be made more aware of issues around disability and accessibility on a continuing basis.

Cr Andrea Cornejo, a wheelchair user, contributed to the 2015-2021 management of the municipal council of La Paz, and this made it easier to work on disability issues. 

In 2022 an election was held, and a new administration took office. Policies and programmes to support people with disabilities are not among the priorities of the new administration and the EBAU Plan has been abandoned.

Concejo Municipal: Link

Agencia Municipal de Noticias: Link

Agencia Municipal de Noticias: Link

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