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

San Marino

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Transmitted by Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York (18 April 1996)
General policy

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

Since the adoption of the Rules the Government has not done anything to initiate or support information campaigns conveying the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of special and general legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts) while the non-judicial mechanism for that purpose is a Governmental body (administrative).

The general legislation applies to all categories of persons with 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 socio-psychological assistance, financial security, employment, independent living.

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 promote accessibility in the build environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas. Special transport arrangements include public transport free of charge, available for medical treatment, education, employment and recreational purposes. When planning to build accessible environments the most difficult obstacles are: attitudinal factors, economic/budgetary factors, technical factors, geographical and climatic factors, lack of planning and design capacity. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people has no officially recognized status. It is neither used as the first language in education of deaf people nor recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no Governmental measures for encouraging media and other forms of public information to make their services available to persons with disabilities. The only service provided to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and other persons is easy readers for persons with mental disabilities.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization of organizations of persons with disabilities. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with Governmental institutions. The views of the organizations of persons with disabilities are taken into account at the national level. The Government provides financial and organizational/logistic support to organizations of persons with disabilities. Disabled persons participate to a very limited extent in Government, legislature, judiciary, political parties but to a great extent in NGOs. In San Marino the disabled persons' organizations have the role to: advocate rights and improved services, contribute to public awareness and provide services.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee or similar body in San Marino.

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