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

Finland

Download 'ILSMH Reports on the UN Standard Rules' as a PDF file (258 KB)

---

© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Förbundet de Utvecklingsstördas Väl (FDUV), Finland
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Finnish Government, ILSMH (Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto r.y.), RI, WBU

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy in Finland is, according to FDUV, expressed in law. According to the Government, the officially recognized disability policy is also expressed in guidelines, adopted by the National Disability Council, and in policy, adopted by political parties and NGOs. The emphasis in this national policy is on rehabilitation.

Since the adoption of the Standard Rules the government has initiated and supported information campaigns to convey the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by special legislation. According to the Government the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of general legislation and special legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts). Non-judicial bodies for that purpose according to FDUV, are NGOs. According to the Government non-judicial mechanisms include an Ombudsman.

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court-of-law, the right to privacy and property rights. According to the Government, general legislation is also applicable with respect to employment. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government, even the benefits of financial security and independent living are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Standard Rules. According to the Government, since the adoption of the Standard Rules, the Constitution has been amended (1995). For instance, a clause is included (section 14 §3) according to which persons using sign language and persons in need of interpretation and translation services, because of disability, will be protected by law.

Accessibility

There are laws and regulations to ensure accessibility of the built environment requiring that public places, land, sea, air transportation and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by national authority, local governments, and the constructor. According to the Government, accessibility of the built environment is observed by building boards in local governments, on shared responsibility between the constructor and the authorities and shared responsibility between the providers of services and local communities.

The following measures have been promoted by the government to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: marking parking areas, installing automatic doors, lifts, accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing, providing financial incentives for accessibility measures and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. According to the Government, even the following measures have been promoted: levelling off pavements, installing special lighting and using contrast colours for visually impaired. There are subsidised transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. Special transport is available for the purpose of medical treatment, education, work and recreation. 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.

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. 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 laws and regulations to encourage media and other forms of public information - by means of economic support - 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 for any purpose and easy readers for persons with disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

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. According to the Government, there are such legal provisions. Disability organizations are sometimes consulted when laws with a disability aspect are being prepared. When their views are taken into account, this occurs at both the national, regional and local levels. The government gives financial support to existing and new organizations of persons with disabilities. Disabled people participate to a very limited extent in government and legislatures, but to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services and identify needs and priorities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee in Finland is reporting to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Care. The committee includes representatives from NGOs only. According to the Government, the committee includes representatives also from seven Ministries, from the National Research and development Centre for Welfare and Health and from the Finnish Federation of Municipalities. The government exptects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development, but not to perform other tasks. According to the Government, the committee is also expected to promote the participation of disabled persons in society and promote awareness raising actions.

The adoption of the Standard Rules has not generally led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy. According to the Government, the Standard Rules have helped the Government to focus on the areas that need attention. The National Disability Programme is based on the UN Standard Rules.

---

Contents of the ILSMH Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Finnish Government, ILSMH (Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto r.y.), RI, WBU