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

Romania

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

---

© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Ministry unspecified (14 march 1996)
Compare with the following Country Report(s): DPI, WBU

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy in Romania is expressed in law. The emphasis - in descending scale - is on: rehabilitation, prevention, individual support, accessibility measures, anti-discrimination law.

The Government has conveyed the message of full participation since the adoption of the Rules through mass-media, working meetings, seminars etc.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected both by special and by general legislation. There are no judicial mechanisms available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Non-judicial mechanisms available for that purpose include: a Government body (administrative).

The general legislation applies to all categories of disabled persons with respect to: education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court-of-law, right to privacy and property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, financial security, employment, independent living, and participation in decisions affecting them.

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

Accessibility

There are laws and regulations requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, means of transportation and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the build environment is observed by a national authority and local Governments. The following measures have been promoted by the Government in order to facilitate accessibility in the build environment: marking parking areas, installing lifts and accessible toilets, improving accessibility in housing, financial incentives for accessibility measures, installing special lighting for visually impaired, and provision of specially adapted motor vehicles. Special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities include: free urban and interurban transport on buses and trains and available for the following purposes: medical treatment, education, work and recreational purpose. According to the Government, the most difficult obstacles when planning to build accessible environments are attitudinal factors, lack of knowledge, research and information. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are Government measures for encouraging 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 other persons: literature in Braille/tape, sign language interpretation being available for any purpose, easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.


Organizations of persons with disabilities

The organizations of physically handicapped persons and the organizations of mentally handicapped are represented in the national umbrella organization. The Government states that legal provisions exist mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with Governmental institutions. Organizations are always consulted when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Such Consultations take place at both the national, regional and local level. The Government gives both financial and organizational/logistic support to organizations. Disabled persons do not at all participate in Governments, legislature, judiciary, political parties. They do, however, to a great extent participate in NGOs. The disabled persons' organizations in Romania have the role 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, and provide services.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the State Secretariat for Handicapped Persons. The committee includes representatives of several Ministries, of organizations of persons with disabilities, other NGOs, the private sector and local administration. The committee is expected to participate in policy development and also to improve accessibility and special protection. According to the Government the establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, legislation, integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field, more accurate planning, more effective use of resources, and promotion of public awareness.

It is too early to make an evaluation whether the adoption of the Standard Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

---

Contents of the UN Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): DPI, WBU