1 About the white paper
In short
In this chapter, you will read about why the government created this white paper:
- The government wants persons with intellectual disabilities to have their rights respected and fulfilled.
- The government wants to listen to persons with intellectual disabilities.
- The government held a seminar where persons with intellectual disabilities could talk about what was important to them.
The policy is about everyone being seen and heard
The government wants everyone to be included in society. Therefore, the policy must apply to everyone, regardless of disabilities. The policy should ensure that persons with intellectual disabilities can live just as good a life as everyone else. It should also safeguard their human rights.
Human rights are important in all parts of society. Policy about persons with intellectual disabilities must therefore cover all areas of society, such as health, work, and privacy.
Everyone is different and requires various kinds of help. The government wants everyone to get the help they need. Everyone should be able to live good lives and spend their time in the best way possible. That is also what is best for society.
Policy about persons with disabilities is based on a United Nations convention. The UN convention concerns the rights of persons with disabilities and is known as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We need extra awareness of the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities. This white paper is a way of creating this awareness.
1.1 What is the purpose of the white paper?
The white paper shall explain the rights that persons with intellectual disabilities have. It shall also explain what is currently working well and what is not working. The parliament (Stortinget) can use this knowledge to create new policies or services. It can also ensure that the services for persons with intellectual disabilities work better together.
Persons and organisations can also use this white paper. People can use it to tell the people helping them what they want and what they are entitled to. The white paper shall contribute to ensure that persons with intellectual disabilities get the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
Boks 1.1 What are rights and human rights?
A right is something someone is entitled to. For example, you have the right to the healthcare that you need.
A human right is something everyone in the world is entitled to, regardless of who they are and where they live. No one can lose their human rights, nor is it possible to give them up. An example of a human right is the right to freedom of speech.
How was the white paper made?
CRPD states that persons with disabilities shall be consulted about issues and decisions that concern them. Persons with intellectual disabilities and their representatives have therefore given input to this white paper.
The government worked with Bufdir (The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs) and Stiftelsen SOR. They invited 16 persons with intellectual disabilities to a seminar. The seminar was held in autumn 2019 and was focused on human rights. At the seminar, the participants spoke about things that were important to them. They spoke about health, school, and work, as well as other issues. They spoke directly to the Minister of Culture and Equality. In 2019, this was Trine Skei Grande.
The government wants to have more seminars
The government wants persons with intellectual disabilities to be part of the decision-making process. Therefore, the government wants to arrange more seminars like this in the future. The government wants to speak to both persons with intellectual disabilities and organisations working in their interest. These organisations can often do a good job in protecting the rights of their members.