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

Latvia

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Latvian Society of the Blind, Latvia
No reply was received from the Government of Latvia.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law. The emphasis in this policy - in descending scale - is on prevention, rehabilitation, accessibility measures and individual support.

Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has initiated and supported information campaigns, conveying the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by special legislation and general legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts). Non-judicial mechanisms include an Ombudsman and a governmental body (administrative).

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment and political 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 themselves.

New legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority. The only measure provided in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment is the providing of specially adapted motor vehicles. Special transport for persons with disabilities includes free transport (with the exception of taxi cabs), being available for medical treatment, for education, for work and for recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors, lack of legislation and regulations, lack of knowledge, research and information and lack of enforcement mechanism.

Sign language for deaf people has no officially recognized status nor is it used as the first language in education of deaf people. It is, however, recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are government measures to encourage media to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities, but no government measures to make other forms of public information 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, news magazines in Braille (not on tape) and sign language interpretation for major events.

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. 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 and judicial authorities, to some extent in political parties and to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is 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, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

There is no national co-ordinating committee or any similar body.

The adoption of the Rules has led to changes into legislation.

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