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

Switzerland

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Fédération Suisse des Associations de Parents de Handicapés Mentaux, Switzerland
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Swiss Government, DPI

General policy

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

Legislation

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

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility in the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that means of public transportation are made accessible. According to the Government, there are even laws requiring that public places, the outdoor environment and housing are made accessible. There is special transport (subsidized) for persons with disabilities, being available for any purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments are economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. According to the Government, however, there is no such component. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information 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 and sign language interpretation being available for any purpose.

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. Persons with disabilities participate to a great extent in government, legislatures and judicial authorities but to a very limited extent in NGOs. According to the Government, persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, judicial authorities, political parties, to some extent in legislatures and to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, 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 and provide services. According to the Government, organizations also mobilize persons with disabilities and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

There is a national co-ordinating committee. According to the Government, there is no such committee. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development. The establishment of the committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation and a better dialogue in the disability field.

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Contents of the ILSMH Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Swiss Government, DPI