| Abstract [eng] |
The present paper aims to evaluate persons‘ with disabilities, nongovernmental organisations‘ (NGO) and Office‘s of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson role and activities‘ impact in solving specific cases of discrimination. In this paper the impact of person and organisation is analysed in the context of Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson received complains of possible discrimination because of disability during January 2016 – April 2017 and data of interviews with NGO and Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson representatives. The activity of people who faced discrimination because of their disability is seen as an important condition in seeking to reinstate violated rights. The role of the person with disability in reinstating violated rights includes identifying discriminating conditions and violated rights, understanding competences of organisations protecting equal opportunities and rights (knowing where to ask for help), choosing the best way and strategy for reinstating violated rights, the expression of citizenship of persons with disabilities and their representatives, position of defender of violated rights (characterized by person‘s persistence, complying with one‘s position, related to clear identification of discriminating situation). This research shows that persons with disabilities expression of citizenship in participating in the process of reinstating violated rights, is revealed by observation of implementation of new projects and reconstructions, related to environments adaptation for persons with disabilities, queries and reaction, attention to other people‘s with disabilities who experienced social injustice and to their motivation to protect violated rights, sharing experience of protecting violated rights, using available tools to educate, inform society and representatives of different organisations, by showing personal example. Results of the research show how persons with disabilities level of activity while taking part in the process of defending violated rights is connected to sex, age and experience in NGO work or in the field of equal opportunities. Analysis of the claims presented to the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson displays that during the period of research most actively defending their (possibly) violated rights were middle-aged (40-60 years) males with movement disabilities, mostly complaining about buildings and other objects not being adapted to people with disabilities, unequal benefits and other forms of financial injustice. Results of the research revealing achievements of NGO, their competences and focus, allows us to talk about NGO as subjects having power and able to represent persons with disabilities in reinstating their violated rights and possibilities. Individual impact of NGO for discriminated persons manifests by enabling them through consultations, providing information, redirecting to competent organisations and direct representation addressing to discriminating person / organisation, institutions ensuring implementation of equal rights or court. The NGO influence revealed during research to policy makers and legislators discussing and negotiating specific laws and regulations, to governmental and municipal organisations‘ activities and to suppliers of goods and services providing educating work and solving discriminating situations, is also beneficial to all persons with disabilities or separate groups of persons with disabilities. The research shows collective and individual impact of the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson in the context of analysed cases of disability discrimination during the research time and collected data from interviews with representatives of NGO and the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson. During the analysed period, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson influenced policy makers and legislators (who adapted laws and regulations, based on recommendations of the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson), to suppliers of goods and services (who adjusted environment and provided equal opportunities to access of services the same as other persons, based on the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson recommendations,), employers (who acknowledged discrimination fact; providing consultations about new Labour Code). The findings of this study indicates that in some cases just opening an investigation by the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson and demanding the information about discriminating behaviour or conditions alone is enough as mean of influence. In some cases, individual and / or collective impact of the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson is achieved without opening an investigation, only by redirecting a complaint to other relevant organisation(s). An impact assessment of the role and activities of individual and institutions in the context of specific cases of discrimination allows us to identify interactions and cooperation of individual and different institutions seeking to reinstate violated equal opportunities and rights of a person with disabilities. The role and activities of different institutions and individual is revealed by engaging in these stages of reinstating equal opportunities and rights (or some of them): identifying discriminating situation – defining the problem, taking over the solution to the discriminatory problem, solving the discriminatory problem and sharing the results of the solution – publicity. In the context of specific cases, discovered impact of different institutions shows importance of interpersonal, interinstitutional and intersectoral cooperation in seeking reinstate violated opportunities and rights of persons with disabilities. During the investigation period the greatest difficulties, while seeking to reinstate violated opportunities and rights of persons with disabilities, were caused by insufficient cooperation between state and municipal institutions and organisations and the creation of obstacles to solving a discriminatory situation. Problems were also caused by the suppliers of services unwillingness to cooperate and ignoring of appeals made by the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson as well as the lack of unity of people with disabilities. |
