Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Inclusion International - ILSMH

Albania

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997 National Association for People with Mental Handicap, Albania
No reply was received from the Government of Albania.

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy in Albania is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by a National Disability Council, in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy - in descending scale - is on individual support, rehabilitation, anti-discrimination law, accessibility measures, prevention.

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 general legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted 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.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment and property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, employment.

Since the adoption of the Rules the "Law of Employment and Education" has been enacted.

Accessibility

There are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors, geographical and climatic factors, lack of legislation and regulations, lack of knowledge, research and information 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 but is used as the first language in education of deaf people. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities. None of the following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape, news magazines on tape/Braille, sign language interpretation, easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no 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. Disability organizations are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. No support is given by the government to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties, but to a great extent in NGOs. 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 to promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee.

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

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