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

Slovak Republic

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Slovak Union of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Slovak Republic
No reply was received from the Government of Slovak Republic.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): DPI, WBU

General policy

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

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. The judicial mechanism available to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through courts). The non-judicial is a governmental body (administrative). 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.

In 1995, the "Sign Language Deaf Law" was approved by the Slovak Parliament.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment requiring that public places and the outdoor environment are made accessible. 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: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing automatic doors, lifts and accessible toilets, ensuring access to public places, providing financial incentives/support for accessibility measures in housing, installing special lighting and using contrast colours for visually impaired and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. Special transport systems for persons with disabilities are available for medical treatment, education, work and recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors and lack of legislation and regulations. 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 of deaf people, is used as the first language in education of deaf people and is 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 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, news magazines on tape/Braille andsign language interpretation being available for any purpose.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization "the Slovak Humanitarian Council", including over 100 organizations of people with disabilities. 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 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 but to a great extent in political parties and 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

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The committee includes representatives of many Ministries and of organizations of persons with disabilities. The government exptects the co-ordinating committee participate in policy development but not to perform other tasks. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes in the disability field, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field, more accurate planning, more effective use of resources and improved promotion of public awareness.

The adoption of the Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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