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

Mexico

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Inclusion International, Mexico
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Mexican Government

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government and in policy adopted by NGOs. According to the Government, disability policy is also expressed in guidelines adopted by a national disability council but not in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy is on accessibility measures, individual support, anti-discrimination law, rehabilitation, prevention.

In order to convey the message of full participation the government has formulated a national programme on disability in which the Standard Rules are being observed. The Government also refers to several information campaigns undertaken 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 available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through the courts). The non-judicial mechanisms include an Ombudsman and a governmental body (administrative). According to the Government, judicial mechanisms also include recourse procedure by a special agency, dealing with anti-discrimination issues.

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

Amendments of old laws as well as new laws have been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, means of public transportation, and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments and by NGOs. According to the Government, there is a national authority supervising the accessibility in the built environment. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: marking parking areas, installing lifts and accessible toilets and ensuring access to public places. According to the Government even other services are provided in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, improving accessibility in housing, providing financial incentives/support for accessibility measures in housing, installing special lighting and using contrast colours for visually impaired. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. According to the Government, there is special transport available for medical treatment, education, work and for recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations and lack of knowledge, research and information. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language has no officially recognized status, is not used as the first language in education of deaf people and is not recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. According to the Government, there are such measures. No services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others. According to the Government, the following measures are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape, news magazines on tape/Braille and easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. According to the Government, there is a national umbrella organization in which all organizations of disabled people are represented. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with governmental institutions. Organizations of persons with disabilities are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. According to the Government, organizations are always consulted. Consultations occur at the local level. According to the Government, consultations also occur at the national and regional levels. No support is given by the government to organizations of persons with disabilities. The Government states giving organizational/logistic support to organizations of disabled people. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government and judicial authorities, to some extent in legislatures, and to a great extent in political parties and 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 promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the General Director of the Family Integral Development National Program. According to the Government, the co-ordinating committee is reporting to the President of the Republic. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries, from organizations of persons with disabilities, from other NGOs and from the private sector. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks. The establishment of the committee has led to improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field, more accurate planning, more effective use of resources and improved promotion of public awareness.

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 Mexican Government