Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Rehabilitation International - RI

Denmark

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Rehabilitation International, Denmark
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Danish Government, DPI, WBU

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by a national disability council, in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGOs. According to the Government, disability policy is not expressed in law but in guidelines, adopted by the Government. The emphasis in this policy is on rehabilitation, individual support and accessibility measures.

Since the adoption of the Standard Rules, the government has done nothing to convey the message of full participation. According to the Government, the following measures have been taken to convey the message of full participation: The Minister of Social Affairs has held a press meeting, in December 1994, the national council on disability has distributed material concerning the Standard Rules and an interministerial committee has been appointed in order to work out a plan of action, concerning accessibility and awareness raising.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special legislation and general legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is recourse procedure by a special agency, dealing with anti-discrimination issues. Non-judicial mechanisms include: an Ombudsman, and a governmental body (administrative). According to the Government, the judicial mechanisms include due process (legal remedy through the courts), the non-judicial including an ombudsman and an independent expert body.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court-of-law, the right to privacy and to property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, employment, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government, the benefits of employment and participation in decisions affecting themselves are not guaranteed by law.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure the accessibility in the built environment requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, means of public transportation and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments. The Government states that accessibility in the built environment is also observed by a national authority. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing automatic doors, lifts and accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing, providing financial incentives/support for accessibility measures in housing, installing special lighting and using contrast colours for visually impaired and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. There are special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities, available for medical treatment, education, work and recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors, lack of planning and design-capacity and lack of enforcement mechanism.

Sign language for deaf people is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. According to the Government, sign language for deaf people is also recognized as the official language for deaf people and is used as the first language in education of deaf people. There are government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. According to the Government, there are no measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape, sign language interpretation, being available for any purpose and easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization, The Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People, with 27 member organizations, covering all groups of disabled people. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with governmental institutions. Organizations of persons with disabilities are often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at both the national, regional and local level. The government financially supports existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties, but to a great extent in NGO's. The Government did not provide any answer concerning the extent of participation of persons with disabilities. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of persons with disabilities and contribute to public awareness. According to the Government, organizations also provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Parliament. The committee includes representatives of the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs, as well as Education and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development but not to perform other tasks. According to the Government, the council is also expected to perform other tasks. The establishment of the committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field and more accurate planning. The establishment of the committee has not led to a more effective use of resources or improved promotion of public awareness.

The adoption of the Rules has not led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy. According to the Government, the adoption of the Rules has provided a new instrument to carry out the disability policy.

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