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

Greece

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

National Confederation of Disabled People, Greece
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Greek Government, RI, WFD

General policy

The national disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government, in guidelines adopted by the national disability council, in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGO's. According to the Government, disability policy is not expressed in guidelines adopted by a national disability council. The emphasis in this policy in descending scale - is on rehabilitation, individual support, prevention, accessibility measures and anti-discrimination law.

Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has not done anything to initiate or support information campaigns, conveying the message of full participation. The Government states that by means of information campaigns in mass media and in proposed legislation being enacted, it has conveyed the message of full participation.

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 due process (legal remedy through courts), whereas the non-judicial mechanism for that purpose is a governmental body (administrative).

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 property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, employment and participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government, even the benefits of training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security and independent living are guaranteed to persons with disabilities. The Government adds, however, that even if legal provisions exist, the implementation of these rights is constrained by insufficient available resources.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules. According to the Government, a special law dealing with the organization of welfare services has been enacted.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, land, sea, air transportation and housing are made accessible. According to the Government, there are no design standards requiring that housing is made accessible. There is no responsible body to ensure accessibility in 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, installing lifts and accessible toilets and improving accessibility in housing. The Government states that no measures have been taken to install lifts and accessible toilets or to improve accessibility in housing. However, specially adapted motor vehicles are provided. There are special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. Special transport is available for medical treatment, education and for recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, lack of planning and design-capacity, lack of knowledge, research and information, lack of user participation and lack of enforcement mechanism. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people has no officially recognized status nor is it used as the first language in education of deaf people. However, it is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. According to the Government, sign language is not even recognized as the main means of communication between deaf people and others. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities. The Government, however, states that there are such measures both regarding media and public information services. The following services are provided to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape, news magazines on tape/Braille and sign language interpretation being available only for major events.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization were sixteen organizations are represented. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with governmental institutions. Disability organizations are often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national and local levels. The government financially supports existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to some extent in judicial authorities and NGO's, but to a great extent in government, legislatures and political parties. According to the Government, disabled people participate only to some extent in Government and political parties. The role of disabled persons organizations 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, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee or any similar body.

The adoption of the Standard Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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Contents of the DPI Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Greek Government, RI, WFD