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

Sweden

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Riksförbundet för Mag- och Tarmsjuka (RMT), Sweden
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Swedish Government, DPI (Handikappförbundens Samarbetsorgan), DPI (Neurologiskt Handikappades Riksf-rbund), DPI (Hörselskadades Riksförbund), ILSMH, WBU, WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law and in guidelines adopted by the government. According to the Government, the disability policy is also expressed in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGO's. The emphasis in this policy - in descending scale - is on individual support, rehabilitation, prevention, accessibility measures, anti-discrimination law.

Since the adoption of the Standard Rules, the government has not done anything to initiate or support information campaigns, conveying the message of full participation. The Government refers to many actions, undertaken in order to convey the message of full participation: translation of the Rules in Swedish, entrusting the disability Ombudsman with the task of disseminating and promoting the Rules in Sweden and making the Rules available in Braille, cassette tapes and in an easy-to-read form.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by special legislation. According to the Government the rights of persons with disabilities are protected both by general legislation and special legislation. The judicial mechanism available for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts). Non-judicial bodies include: an Ombudsman and independent expert bodies. According to the Government, non-judicial bodies include an Ombudsman, a governmental body (administrative) and national/regional supervision.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to: education, employment, right to privacy and property rights. The government states that general legislation also applies to the right to marriage, to the right to parenthood/family, political rights and access to court-of-law. 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.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Standard Rules. According to the Government, however, the following laws have been enacted since the adoption of the Rules: the Act concerning Support and Service for Persons with certain Functional Impairment, the Assistance Benefit Act, the Act concerning the Disability Ombudsman and the Act concerning Suitable Public Transport to Persons with Disabilities.

Accessibility

There are laws and regulations 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. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority and by local governments. According to the Government, accessibility in the built environment is also observed by the constructor. The following measures have been promoted by the government to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing automatic doors, lifts, accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing, providing financial support for the costs of adapting private buildings to the needs of persons with disabilities, 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. Special transport is available for medical treatment, education, work and for recreational purpose. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people has no officially recognized status and is not recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. However, it is used as the first language in education of deaf people. According to the Government, sign language for deaf people is recognized as the official language of 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. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and other persons: literature in Braille/tape, news magazines on tape/Braille, 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. 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 always consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at both the national, regional and local levels. The government gives financial and organizational/logistic support to organizations of persons with disabilities. The Government states supporting of only financially organizations of persons with disabilities. 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, contribute to public awareness and provide services. According to the Government, organizations also promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to a particular Ministry. According to the Government, there is no national co-ordinating committee in Sweden. The committee includes representatives only of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes in the disability field, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field, more accurate planning, more effective use of resources and improved promotion of public awareness.

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Contents of the DPI Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Swedish Government, DPI (Handikappförbundens Samarbetsorgan), DPI (Neurologiskt Handikappades Riksf-rbund), DPI (Hörselskadades Riksförbund), ILSMH, WBU, WFD