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

Croatia

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Inclusion International, Croatia
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Croatian Government, WBU

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government and in guidelines adopted by a national disability council. According to the Government, there are no guidelines adopted by a national disability council. The emphasis in this policy - in descending scale - is on rehabilitation, individual support, prevention, anti-discrimination law and accessibility measures.

Since the adoption of the Rules the government has initiated and supported seminars in order to convey 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). The non-judicial mechanism is a governmental body (administrative). According to the Government non-judicial mechanisms also include independent expert bodies.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education (for all categories of disabled people), employment (for less severe handicapped, able to vocational rehabilitation and work), the right to marriage (to those with legal ability), the right to parenthood/family (with legal ability), political rights (to those with legal ability) and access to court-of-law. According to the Government, the above mentioned rights apply to all groups of disabled persons without distinction. In addition, they are applicable also with respect to the right to privacy and to property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security (partially), employment (for those who are able), independent living (for those who are able). According to the Government, the above mentioned benefits are guaranteed to all groups of disabled people without distinction. Even the benefit of participation in decisions affecting themselves is guaranteed by law.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are laws and regulations to ensure accessibility of the built environment requiring that public institutions, land, sea, air transportation and housing are made accessible. According to the Government, accessibility is also ensured for the outdoor environment. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments and by the constructor. According to the Government, accessibility is also observed by a national authority. No services have been promoted by the government to facilitate accessibility in the built environment. According to the Government, the following measures have been promoted in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing lifts and accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations and lack of user participation. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. According to the Government, there is such a component.

Sign language for deaf people is recognized as the officially language of deaf people, used as the first language in education of deaf people and is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. 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 and sign language interpretation being available for major events. In addition news for deaf in TV are made available.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization of persons with disabilities. 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 both the national, regional and local levels. According to the Government, consultations take place only at the national level. Persons with disabilities participate to some extent in legislatures and judicial authorities and to a great extent in government and NGOs. The role of organizations of disabled persons 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, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities. According to the Government, organizations do not promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Government Commission for Disabled. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks for instance for periodical meeting in preparing recommendations or actions in the favour of the disabled. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field and more effective use of resources. According to the Government, there is no national co-ordinating committee or any similar body.

The adoption of the Standard Rules has not yet 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 Croatian Government, WBU