Disabilities

The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion coordinates policy

The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion (the Ministry) is responsible for the national anti-discrimination legislation which, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. In addition, the Ministry coordinates the government's policy regarding persons with disabilities. An important instrument here is the State Secretary Committee for the overall policy regarding persons with disabilities. The State Secretary Committee is chaired by a state secretary in the Ministry. The state secretary also chairs the liaison committee for the Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Disabled People and the government.

Public committee

In October 2014, a public committee was appointed to prepare a proposition regarding specific measures to strengthen the fundamental rights of people with intellectual disabilities. Osmund Kaldheim is the chair of this committee, which is to submit its report in June 2015.

The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs is the directorate in charge

This directorate is also in charge of the policy relating to persons with disabilities. The directorate's tasks comprise:

• Providing grants to organisations representing persons with disabilities. In 2013, the grants equalled NOK 172 million and were for operations, work to ensure equality and holiday/welfare services. More than 120 organisations receive a grant. The directorate manages the grant scheme.
• Information and research & development. The directorate has a budget of NOK 12 million for targeted information and R&D work.
• The Delta Centre is the state's centre of competence for participation and accessibility.
• Documentation of the situation for persons with disabilities.

The Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act

The Act prohibits direct and indirect discrimination on the basis of disability. The Act also stipulates requirements concerning universal design and individual adaptation. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud must ensure that the law is complied with. The Act is a tool for achieving equality and participation for persons with disabilities. The Act prohibits the discrimination of persons with disabilities in all areas and among other things stipulates that facilities intended for the general public, such as buildings for the general public and associated outdoor areas, must be universally designed. The Act is enforced by the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud and the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. Important tools for implementing the Act include:

• The government's action plan for universal design and increased accessibility 2009 – 2013.
• "Persons with intellectual disabilities are not to be discriminated against either!" – The information and development programme 2010 – 2013 to ensure the equality and non-discrimination of persons with intellectual disabilities.
• Parliament has dealt with Proposition 88L New Anti-Discrimination Legislation, which entails amendments to and the harmonisation of the anti-discrimination legislation. These amendments entered into force on 1 January 2014.

The Act relating to a municipal or county council committee or other representation scheme for persons with disabilities, etc

This applies to participation in the municipalities' and county councils' work on issues that are particularly important to persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion has the responsibilities relating to this Act.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

The UN General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 13 December 2006. The convention entered into force on 3 May 2008, since 20 states had ratified it. Norway signed the convention on 30 March 2007 and ratified it on 3 June 2013.

The convention's main objectives are to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same opportunities to achieve their human rights and to dismantle any obstacles that make this difficult. The convention is intended to help prevent discrimination on the basis of disability. The convention is to ensure respect for the prevailing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of persons with disabilities.

The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion is the national contact point for the convention and has the overall responsibility for the implementation of the convention's provisions throughout Norway. The Ministry is to submit a report to the UN on the national implementation of the convention's provisions two years after ratification. The

Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud has been assigned the task of monitoring the national implementation of the convention.

International cooperation

The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion participates in the work of the UN, EU, Council of Europe and Nordic Council of Ministers to develop policies for persons with disabilities.

Second version of the information and development programme Persons with intellectual disabilities are not to be discriminated against either! (only in Norwegian)
The description of the measures has been updated.