Tuesday 19 March 2024 | 08:56

 Siarhei Drazdouski: Quality of the national implementation plan of the Convention raises concerns

29.12.2016  |  Society   |  Piotr Kuchta,  EuroBelarus
 Siarhei Drazdouski: Quality of the national implementation plan of the Convention raises concerns Photo: Tatsiana Zharnosek, Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

So far, the government does not confirm the intention to carry out systematic and comprehensive reforms of legislation in this area.

As Siarhei Drazdouski highlighted at the presentation of the study "Modernization of the legislation in the field of disability policy within the framework of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", conducted by the project the BISS "Reforum", "national plan today is viewed from the position of the current Belarusian system rather than the Convention."

Belarus acceded to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on September 28, 2015. The Government was given six months to prepare for the ratification of the Convention.

In January, the government will present the national plan of the implementation of the norms of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. "In our opinion, national plan is the turning point, which makes it possible to have a number of structural reforms that would change the attitude of our society towards disability", - says Siarhei Drazdouski.

However the coordinator of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that there is no full-fledged dialogue with the authorities yet.

Anastasia Kanavalava, the lawyer of the Belarusian association of assistance to children and young people with disabilities, notes that the draft of the national plan "lacks definite measures, it’s not mentioned what statuary regulations should be abolished or amended." "The realization of the right to work is unclear. That, again, requires a serious legislative reform."

Among the key issues of the implementation of the Convention Siarhei Drazdouski names the country's lack of institute of prohibition of discrimination and the medical approach to disability. "For example, the use of compulsory treatment," - explains Siarhei Drazdouski.

According to the expert, officials often respond to the proposals of public organizations: "We had these regulations for years, that’s what we practice." "If inequality is a legal norm, it must be changed unconditionally. There is no place for discussion. It just needs to be fixed - technically and legally ", - argued Siarhei Drazdouski.

Drazdouski showed that today about 20 proposals public organizations were included in the national plan, "but it is not enough to be sure that it will be of good quality".

Today Belarus is home to 554,423 persons with disabilities, which makes 5.8% of the country's population.

The authors of the actual study are legal experts in the field of disability of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Tatsiana Anushkevich, Siarhei Drazdouski and Volha Likhachova. They point out that currently there is no definition of discrimination on grounds of disability; legal mechanism of protection against discrimination, including discrimination at the workplace; case law; the definition of universal design concepts.

Such concepts as living independently and inclusion in the community are not fully realized today.

Belarus does not provide any measures for preventing violence against persons with disabilities.

The authors of the study stress the need for "considerable changes in legislation". The priorities include the reorientation of the legislation to non-discrimination policy, which gives persons with disabilities equal rights and opportunities; personalization and changing the state monopoly of social protection to an independent choice of a person; rationalizing measures and methods of public and state support; empowering non-governmental participants of the disability policy to reach real equality in dialogue and interaction.

Other news section «Society»

What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
The Belarus Committee of ICOMOS announces the collection of cases on the effectiveness of the State List of Historical and Cultural Values as a tool of the safeguarding the cultural monuments.
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
On March 27-28, the Belarus ICOMOS and the EuroBelarus held an online expert workshop on expanding opportunities for community participation in the governance of historical and cultural heritage.
“It is our big joint work”
“It is our big joint work”
It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The Forum was devoted not so much to the outputs as to the challenges and prospects after the creation and signing of local agendas.
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
In Stoubcy, they talked about universal design and conducted pilot monitoring of two urban sites accessibility.
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
"Specificity is different, but the priority is general." In Valożyn, a local strategy for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
The campaign "Agenda 50" was summed up in Ščučyn, and a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed there.
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
The regional center has become the second city in Belarus where the local plan for the implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
Representatives of the campaign “Agenda 50” from five pilot cities discussed achievements in creating local agendas for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign “Agenda 50”, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
On May 28, the city hosted a presentation of the results of the project "Equal to Equal" which was dedicated to monitoring the barrier-free environment in the city.
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
In Babruysk, wheelchair users are fighting discrimination.
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
What results has the campaign "Agenda 50" given, what helps to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the regions?
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
Experts in Valožyn have determined that the quality of people’s life depends on their awareness.
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
On March 3, members of the campaign "Agenda 50" from different Belarusian cities met in Minsk. The campaign is aimed at the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
There are being implemented three projects under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities campaign in the city of Babruysk.
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
In Ščučyn, people with disabilities learned to be leaders and to advocate their interests.
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
In Stolin, social organizations and local authorities are implementing a project aimed at independent living of persons with disabilities, and creating local agenda for the district.
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland?
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.