Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Disabled Peoples' International - DPI

Costa Rica

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

DPI, Costa Rica
No reply was received from the Government of Costa Rica.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH, WBU, WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in guidelines adopted by the government and in guidelines adopted by the national disability council. The emphasis in this policy is on rehabilitation.

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 judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities includes due process (legal remedy through the courts) and recourse procedure by a special agency, dealing with anti-discrimination issues. Non-judicial bodies include an Ombudsman.

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

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority and local governments. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations and lack of knowledge, research and information. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language has no officially recognized status. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. No services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or 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 the national and regional level. The government gives financial and organizational/logistic support to organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties, and to some extent in NGO's. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, contribute to public awareness, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

The adoption of the rules has not led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy..

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