Brazil: Commission to Include Rights of Disabled Persons
To defend all citizens facing violation of their civil rights, with special attention for people with disabilities, children, adolescents, and the elderly, is the goal of the new board of directors of the Brazilian Bar Association's Human Rights Commission, recently elected for a three-year term.
According to chairperson Lauro Schuch, the Commission plans to set up specific internal sub-committees to deal with children and adolescents, the elderly, people with disabilities, and citizens' rights and justice, among other areas.
Schuch went on to correct the widespread but mistaken notion that only outlaws benefit from safeguards for human rights: "We actually emphasize citizens' rights, ensuring that the laws are enforced. For example, in the specific case of people with special needs the Bar Association's Commission is working to improve quality of life through access to public transportation, focusing on actions that benefit everyone collectively."
The Commission considers the lack of legislation regulating the rights of people with disabilities the greatest problem faced by people with special needs. "Specific laws simply do not exist. The social protection net is precarious, and we lack the sufficient instruments to guarantee a normal life," says Schuch.
Given this lack of infrastructure, the Human Rights Commission works to raise awareness in society as a whole and among people with disabilities themselves. "The only way to create a culture of respect for people with disabilities is by mobilizing all of society," says Schuch.
Based on this policy of unity, the Bar Association's Human Rights Commission has already established partnerships with various NGOs in order to draft joint action plans and submit priorities to public and private agencies. One collaborator of the Commission, Dr. Vivian Campos de Albuquerque, feels that one of the most active partnerships since the previous administration of Dr. Carlos Berehauser has been with the Center for Independent Living (CVI - Centro de Vida Independente). "Everyone (including people with disabilities) needs to know that there is an organization that defends their rights. That's why unity is so important," she explains.
Last year the Commission handled several cases of people with disabilities whose rights had been violated, such as people with visual impairments who had been prevented from being named to public positions. "There was a student at the Pedro II Secondary School who had a case of myelitis and had to miss school for several weeks for his treatment. When he came back the school refused to let him return to class, claiming lack of accessibility, since he had begun using a wheelchair.
The Human Rights Commission intervenes in such cases, identifying the various options and ensuring that the laws are enforced," says Vivian de Albuquerque.
|
