Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Blind Union - WBU

Croatia

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Croatian Association of the Blind, Croatia
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Croatian Government, ILSMH

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law. According to the Government, disability policy is also expressed in guidelines adopted by the Government. The emphasis in this policy - in descending scale - is on anti-discrimination law, prevention, rehabilitation, individual support and 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. The Government states that it has taken action in order to convey the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. According to the Government, the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by a combination of general and special legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts). The non-judicial mechanism adopted is a governmental body (administrative). According to the Government, non-judicial mechanisms also include independent expert bodies. 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, the 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 and employment. According to the Government, even the benefit of independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves are guaranteed by law.

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

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that public places are made accessible. According to the Government, there are rules also requiring that the outdoor environment, means of public transportation and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority and by local governments. The following measures have been promoted to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas and ensuring access to public places. According to the Government, even other measures have been promoted such as: installing lifts and accessible toilets, improving accessibility in housing and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. There are special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are lack of legislation and regulations and lack of enforcement mechanism. According to the Government, the most difficult factors to build accessible environments are attitudinal factors and economic/budgetary factors. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. According to the Government, there is such a disability awareness component. There are no government measures to encourage media 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 others: literature in Braille/tape and news magazines on tape/Braille. According to the Government, even sign language interpretation for major events is provided.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

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. Organizations of persons with disabilities are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. The government financially supports existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities, political parties and NGOs. According to the Government, disabled people also participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is 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

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Social Affairs. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks, e.g. protection of disabled veterans. The establishment of the committee has had the following effects: improved legislation, a better dialogue in the disability field and improved promotion of public awareness. The establishment of the committee has not led to improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved integration of responsibility, more accurate planning or more effective use of resources. According to the Government, there is no national co-ordinating committee.

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