Government Action on Disability Policy
A Global Survey
Part II - Government Replies as Country Profiles

Hungary

Download 'Government Reports on the UN Standard Rules' as a PDF file (440 KB)

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Ministry of Welfare (18 April 1996)
Compare with the following Country Report(s): DPI, ILSMH, WBU, WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy in Hungary is expressed in law and in guidelines adopted by the Government. The emphasis - in descending scale - is on: anti-discrimination law, prevention, rehabilitation, individual support, accessibility measures.

The Government has not done anything since the adoption of the Rules to initiate and support information campaigns conveying the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. The judicial mechanism available for the protection of disabled persons rights is due process (legal remedy through courts), while administrative and other non-judicial bodies include: an Ombudsman and a special arbitration/conciliation body.

The 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, right to privacy, property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, and participation in decisions affecting them.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

Laws and regulations concerning accessibility in the build environment establish national design standards requiring that public places, and the outdoor environment are made accessible. No responsible body exists to ensure that accessibility in the build environment is being observed. The following measures have been promoted by the Government in order to facilitate accessibility: marking parking areas, improving accessibility in housing, financial support for the costs of adapting private buildings to the needs of disabled persons and provision of specially adapted motor vehicles. Special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities include: The National Federation of Associations of Disabled People runs a specialized taxi service, the Municipality of Budapest runs a service of specialized buses, which, on a modest payment, can be used by disabled people. Special transport is available for: medical treatment, education, work and recreational purpose. When planning to build accessible environments the most difficult obstacles are: economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations, and lack of enforcement mechanisms. No disability awareness component is incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people is used as the first language in education of deaf people and recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no Government measures for 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 disabled people and others: literature in Braille/tape and sign language interpretation available for major events.


Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization where many organizations of persons with disabilities are included. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with Governmental institutions. Organizations are often consulted when laws, regulations and/or guidelines with a disability aspect are bbeing prepared. Consultations with disabled persons organizations take place at both the national, regional and local levels. The Government gives financial support to existing or new organizations. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in Government, legislature, political parties, NGOs but to some extent in judiciary. The disabled persons' organizations have the role to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, identify needs and priorities, contribute to public awareness, and provide services.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee or any similar body in Hungary.
The Government states that the adoption of the Standard Rules has not led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.