Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Federation of the Deaf - WFD

Belarus

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Byelorussian Association of the Deaf, Republic of Belarus
No reply was received from the Government of Belarus.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH (Rehabilitation Centre of Disabled Children Having Cerebral Palsy and Spinal Cord Pathologies), ILSMH (Association of Parents of Children with Handicap)

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government, in policy adopted by political parties and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy is on anti-discrimination law, rehabilitation, individual support, prevention and accessibility measures.

In order to convey the message of full participation the government has conducted broad investigations concerning disability matters and taken measures for distribution of information and knowledge on matters of persons with disabilities.

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). Administrative and other non-judicial bodies include the permanent commission of the supreme soviet of the Republic of Belarus on veteran's and persons with disabilities problems, the Ministry of Labour of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Social Welfare of the Republic of Belarus and the Belarussian Association of the Deaf.

General legislation applies to persons with disabilities with respect to education, employment, 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, employment, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves.

The law on the prevention of disability and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility in public places, the outdoor environment, public transport and housing. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority and by local governments. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: ensuring access to public places, improving accessibility in housing and providing financial incentives/support for adapting housing to the needs of persons with disabilities. Special transport arrangements include: a free pass in public transport, special transporting means of enterprises of Belarussian Association of the Deaf and the right to use special transporting means. Special transport is available for medical treatment, education, work and for recreational purpose. The most difficult factors, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors and technical factors. There is a disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language for deaf people is recognized as the official language for deaf people. There are government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities, e.g. access to all kinds of press, news and other TV broadcasting, with interpreting for the deaf. The only service provided to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others is sign language interpretation for any purpose.

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 often consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national and local level. The government gives financial, organiZational/logistic support and provides sport and recreational buildings to the existing or new organiZations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities but to a great extent in political parties and NGOs. The role of organisations 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, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries, of organisations of persons with disabilities, from the Charity and Health Foundation and the Red Cross Society of the Republic of Belarus. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks, such as helping in elaboration of effective measures for prevention of disability, in the developing of various forms of social and customer service for persons with disabilities, in the creation of social and economic conditions granting them equal opportunities in society, in the developing of measures for rise of employment level of persons with disabilities and in the assistance in developing of international co-operation on the problems of disabled people. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has led to improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved integration of responsibility and a better dialogue in the disability field. The State policy of the Republic of Belarus towards the Deaf people was formed and developed during 65 years. Its direction lies in ensuring equalisation of opportunities and equal participation of deaf people in society, realisation of the right of education, medical and other kinds of service, vocational training and job placement.

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Contents of the WFD Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH (Rehabilitation Centre of Disabled Children Having Cerebral Palsy and Spinal Cord Pathologies), ILSMH (Association of Parents of Children with Handicap)