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

Hungary

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

National Federation of Disabled Persons' Associations (MEOSZ), Hungary
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Hungarian Government, ILSMH, WBU, WFD

General policy

There is no officially recognized policy. According to the Government, the officially recognized disability policy in Hungary is expressed in law and in guidelines adopted by the government. The emphasis lies on 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.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special legislation and general legislation. According to the Government, the rights of persons with disabilities are protected only by general legislation. There is no judicial mechanism to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The non-judicial body for that purpose is an Ombudsman. According to the Government, the judicial mechanism available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through the courts). Non-judicial bodies also include a special arbitration/conciliation 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 property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, financial security and participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government even the benefit of training, rehabilitation and counselling is guaranteed by law.

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 requiring (for the new constructed buildings) that public places are made accessible. According to the Government, there are even standards requiring that the outdoor environment is made accessible. No responsible body exists for observing accessibility in the built environment. The following measures have been promoted to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: marking parking areas, providing financial support for adapting housing to the needs of persons with disabilities and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. Special transport includes subsidized transport for the blind and, in some cities or towns, for the physically disabled. Otherwise the physically disabled receive a yearly subsidy ( a very small amount) for transportation. Special transport is available for medical treatment, education , work and for recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, technical factors, lack of knowledge, research and information, lack of co-operation from other organizations/institutions and lack of enforcement mechanism. According to the Government, the foremost obstacle, when building accessible environments, is economic/budgetary factors. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

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

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. According to the Government, 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 sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. According to the Government, organizations are often consulted. Consultations occur at the national level. Consultations occur also at the regional and local levels, according to the Government. The government financially supports existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties and to a great extent in NGO's. According to the Government, disabled people participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, political parties and NGO's but to some extent in judicial authorities. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, contribute to public awareness, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities. According to the Government, organizations do not promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

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

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

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