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

Lebanon

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Inclusion International, Lebanon
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Lebanese Government

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in guidelines adopted by the national disability council. According to the Government, disability policy is also expressed in guidelines adopted by the Government and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy is on prevention, rehabilitation, accessibility measures, individual support and anti-discrimination law.

Since the adoption of the Rules the government has conveyed the message of full participation by means of legislation and other action. The Government states that it has not done anything for conveying this message.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. According to the Government, the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special legislation and general legislation. The judicial mechanism available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy though the courts). According to the Government, even recourse procedure by a special agency dealing with anti-discrimination issues is provided. The non-judicial mechanism includes a governmental body (administrative).

General legislation is applicable to persons with different disabilities with respect to education. According to the Government, general legislation does not apply with respect to education but instead with respect to the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court-of-law, 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. According to the Government, even the benefits of financial security, employment, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves are guaranteed by law.

New legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that public places are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by the organizers/providers of services. The only measure which has been promoted by the government in order to ensure accessibility in the built environment is ensuring access to public places. According to the Government, there are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment and no measures have been promoted for facilitating this accessibility. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments are economic/budgetary factors and technical factors. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language has no officially recognized status. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities. The following service is provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape.

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 sometimes consulted when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. The government gives no support to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. The Government states giving financial support to organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in judicial authorities, to some extent in government and legislatures and to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities 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

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Social Welfare. It includes representatives of the Ministry of Social Welfare, from organiations of persons with disabilities and from other NGOs. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development but not to perform other tasks. According to the Government, the co-ordinating committee is expected even to perform other tasks. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has led to: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field and a more accurate planning.

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