Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Blind Union - WBU

Namibia

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Synskadeorganisation, Namibia
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Namibian Government

General policy

There is no officially recognized disability policy.

Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has not done anything to convey the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. The only mechanism available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts). There are no administrative or other non-judicial bodies for that purpose. According to the Government, there are no judicial mechanisms that have been adopted for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. The only mechanism available is an ombudsman for all citizens.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, the right to privacy and property rights. The only benefit guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities is financial security. According to the Government, none of the rights and benefits enlisted in the questionnaire is guaranteed by law to disabled people.

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

Accessibility

There are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. The following measures have been promoted by the government to ensure accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, lack of legislation and regulations and lack of user participation. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities. There are no services provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. According to the Government, there is a national umbrella organization in which persons with mental disabilities, however, are not represented. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. Disability organizations are often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at both the national, regional and local levels. No support is given by the government to existing or to new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties but to some extent in NGOs. According to the Government, persons with disabilities do not participate at all in Government, legislatures or political parties, but to a very limited extent in judiciary and NGOs. 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, contribute to public awareness and provide services. According to the Government, organizations neither advocate rights nor participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures, but promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation. The committee includes representatives of the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs, of Housing, of Education and of Culture as well as of organizations of persons with disabilities and of other NGOs. According to the Government, the co-ordinating committee also include representatives from the private sector. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks. According to the Government, the committee is not expected to perform other tasks. It is to early for an assessment concerning the effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee. According to the Government, the effect of the co-ordinating committee is improved legislation.

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Contents of the WBU Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Namibian Government