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

Sweden

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

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Riksförbundet för Utvecklingsstörda Barn, Ungdomar och Vuxna, Sweden
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Swedish Government, DPI (Handikappförbundens Samarbetsorgan), DPI (Neurologiskt Handikappades Riksf-rbund), DPI (Hörselskadades Riksförbund), DPI (Riksförbundet för Mag- och Tarmsjuka), WBU, WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government, in guidelines adopted by the national disability council, in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGOs. However, this organisation also maintains that there is no officially recognized disability policy. The emphasis in this disability policy - in descending scale - is on individual support, rehabilitation, prevention, accessibility measures, anti-discrimination law.

The organization claims that the government has initiated and supported information campaigns conveying 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). Non-judicial mechanisms for the same purpose include an Ombudsman and a governmental body (administrative).

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 and to property rights. According to the Government even the right to privacy is guaranteed by law. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government even the benefit of employment and of independent living is guaranteed by law.

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

Accessibility

There are laws and regulations to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, land, sea, air transportation and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments. According to the Government, accessibility in the built environment is also observed by a national authority and by the constructor. The following measures have been promoted by the government to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: marking parking areas, installing automatic doors, installing lifts and accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing, providing financial support for accessibility measures. According to the Government even other measures have been promoted, e.g. levelling off pavements, installing special lighting and using contrast colours for visually impaired and providing of specially adapted motor vehicles. Special transport (mobility service) is available for medical treatment, education, work and for recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments are attitudinal factors, lack of legislation and regulations, lack of knowledge, research and information, lack of user participation and lack of enforcement mechanism. According to the Government, the foremost obstacle for building accessible environments is economic/budgetary factors. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. According to the Government, however, there is such a component.

Sign language for deaf people is recognized as the official language for deaf people and is used as the first language in education of deaf people. There are government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible for 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 (available only for major events), easy readers for persons with mental disabilities. According to the Government, sign language is available for any purpose.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. The Government states that 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, when they take place, occur at both the national, regional and local levels. The government gives financial support to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judiciary system, but to some extent in political parties and NGOs. The role of the 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 and contribute to public awareness. According to the Government, organizations also provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

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 Swedish Government, DPI (Handikappförbundens Samarbetsorgan), DPI (Neurologiskt Handikappades Riksf-rbund), DPI (Hörselskadades Riksförbund), DPI (Riksförbundet för Mag- och Tarmsjuka), WBU, WFD