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

Belgium

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Association Nationale d'Aide aux Handicapés Mentaux, Belgium
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Belgian Government

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government, in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGOs. According to the Government (the French speaking region) disability policy is expressed only in guidelines adopted by the Government.

Since the adoption of the Rules the government has not taken any action in order to convey the message of full participation. The Government states having taken action in order to convey the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by special legislation, exclusively dealing with disability matters. According to the Government the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special and general legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through the courts). Non-judicial mechanisms include an Ombudsman, a governmental body (administrative) and independent expert bodies. The Government does not refer to any non-judicial mechanisms.

The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security. According to the Government, even the benefits of employment, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves are guaranteed by law.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules. According to the Government there are new laws enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. According to the Government there are rules to ensure accessibility in the built environment requiring that public places and the outdoor environment are made accessible. Accessibility is observed by regional authority and local governments. There are special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities, available for education and work. According to the Government special transport is available also for medical treatment and recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles when planning to build accessible environments are attitudinal factors, lack of legislation and regulations, lack of planning and design capacity. Economic/budgetary factors, according to the Government, are the foremost obstacle when building accessible environments. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. According to the Government, there is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. There are services to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others, however, not provided by the government. The Government states providing the following services in order 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 for any purpose.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organizations. 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 sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at both the national, regional and local levels. 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, judiciary, political parties and NGOs. According to the Government, persons with disabilities participate to some extent in political parties and to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, 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 and provide services. According to the Government organizations also mobilize persons with disabilities and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to a Ministry. The committee includes representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The committee does not include representatives of other NGOs or from the private sector. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development, but not to perform other tasks. It is too early for an assessment concerning the effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee. According to the Government, there is no co-ordinating committee or any similar body.

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

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Contents of the ILSMH Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Belgian Government