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

Russia

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

"Actrakhan" Association, Russia
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Russian Government

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in policy adopted by political parties. According to the Government, disability policy is expressed in law. The emphasis in this policy is on rehabilitation, prevention and individual support. According to the Government, the main emphasis is on anti-discrimination law.

The government has not done anything to convey information campaigns, conveying the message of full participation, but local authorities support information campaigns. The Government states having taken, since the adoption of the Rules, the following actions in order to convey the message of full participation: A state report on the status of persons with disabilities in the Russian Federation has been published; radio and television programmes are broadcast on a regular basis; literature for persons with disabilities and on problems of disability are published, including material in Braille; the International Day of Disabled Persons is celebrated annually.

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 both general and special legislation.

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

No new legislation concerning disability has been adopted since the adoption of the Rules. According to the Government, several laws have been enacted.

Accessibility

There are regulations and guidelines which establish standards requiring that public places are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors and lack of legislation and regulations. 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 official language of deaf people, is used as the first language in education of deaf people and is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. According to the Government ,sign language is 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 measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible. The following services 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. According to the Government, sign language interpretation for any purpose is provided, but no easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. According to the Government, there is no 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. Organisations of persons with disabilities are often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. According to the Government, consultations occur also at the regional and local levels. The government gives financial and organizational/logistic support to organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities and political parties. 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, contribute to public awareness, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Defence and to the Ministry of Education. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The co-ordinating committee is expected to participate in policy development but not to perform other tasks. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, a better dialogue in the disability field, more accurate planning, improved promotion of public awareness. According to the Government, there is no national co-ordinating committee or any similar body.

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