Rights protection for people with disabilities

The rights protection office is an advocate to protect the legal and human rights of disabled individuals and provides them with assistance when their rights are violated. The assistance may consist, for example, of:

• Gathering information on how people's cases are managed and provide recommendations

• Attending meetings with individuals or provide support if people are brought in for questioning to the police

• Monitoring if people's cases are in compliance to the law and ensure that they enjoy equal status as persons before the law

• Providing guidance and assistance in the face of difficulties with person's legal capacity

• Preparing formal complaints and appeals for people on administrative level

• Giving comments to the relevant authorities on systematic violations

The office can also assist disabled people to make an agreement with someone they trust to become their personal spokesperson (ice. persónulegur talsmaður) if they need support to exercise their legal capacity and to be recognized as persons before the law.

Rights of people with disabilities

People with disabilities should enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms equal to others. All individuals, disabled and non-disabled, are equal before the law and should therefore enjoy equal access and equal participation in all areas of life, without any form of discrimination. Examples of rights that people with disabilities should enjoy equal to others:

• The right to freedom and personal security.

• The right to live independently and without discrimination in society.

• The right to freedom of expression and opinion.

• Right to start a family.

• Right to a home.

• Right to education.

• Right to healthcare.

• Right to work.

• The right to vote and be elected.

• The right to participate in cultural life.

Where disabled people have rights that are impaired or suspected, it is necessary to take measures to correct and prevent this happening. Disabled people should be available, among other things;

• support services that are essential for its participation in society without discrimination,

• housing in accordance with its needs and preferences, and

• social services that enable them to live in their own homes and contribute to their full participation in society.