Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'People with disabilities – Legal status, laws, etc. – Europe'

Modern parliaments are mostly compared to the top echelon of the society.The unfairness of the representation still holds true even where free, fair and periodic democratic elections are held. PWDs constitue the largest minority group accounting for 15.6% of the world's population. In Ethiopia approximately the same percentage of the population is disabled though nor fairly represented in the political system.
Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2011.
http://www.chr.up.ac.za/
nf2012
Centre for Human Rights
LLM

It is argued that a lack of adequate legislation in pre-1994 South Africa resulted in inequality in the workplace and in society in general. The new democracy intended to address this by promulgated legislation and today the South Africa Constitutional and legislative provisions promoting equality are viewed as amongst the most progressive in the world. Conversely, this progressive legislation aimed to protect against discrimination, still seems to fail the very people it intended to promote and protect. The new legislation created awareness of the need for equality; the right of workers to employment – or at least to decent working conditions. The right to equality is accorded to everybody through the Constitution of South Africa. The Bill of Rights is based on the notion of equality before the law, and the prohibition of discrimination on various grounds. Despite this, the perception exist that persons with disabilities as a minority group are still being marginalised and are restricted in their right to exercise the right to participate and make a meaningful contribution to the labour market. This not only seems to be in contradiction with the Constitutional right to choose an occupation, but has wider social and economic consequences. The ethos of equality legislation is to ensure that the workplace is representative of the society we live in. It is understandable that labour as a social phenomenon is not only concerned with workplace related issues but with aspects encompassing the whole of the socio-political and economic scene. South African labour legislation drafted over the last two decades strives to align with the conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisations and in terms of the obligations of South Africa as a member state. However, the question prevails: is this legislation adequate to address the discrimination and inequality experienced by persons with disability? If so, why do statistics indicate such high unemployment amongst this group? Yet, there is a growing awareness that persons with disabilities represent enormous, untapped economic potential. According to the ILO report on The Right to Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities (1997), much has been accomplished in the international arena in recent years to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in the workplace. This treatise will attempt to evaluate the efficacy of South African legislation in the promotion and integration of persons with disabilities in the labour market.

Mozambique is a least developed country (LDC), and is among the five lowest on the Human Development Index and is known to have no specific protection of people with disabilities (PWDs) with as up to specific legislation has been adopted but g but general laws on social welfare. Although the 2004 Constitution has a generic protection norm nothing much can be found in the whole system. Unfortunately, the 1990 Constitution was more protective and more specifics; the former roughly reduced the extent of protection that existed before. It can be said that Mozambique does not have any protection of PWDs at all.
Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2011.
http://www.chr.up.ac.za/
nf2012
Centre for Human Rights
LLM

Acompanha: A diferença está no saber agir: conheça!: educação inclusiva: dos documentos legais à realidade escolar
Este trabalho toma como objeto de pesquisa o tema da educação inclusiva. A questão que ensejou a pesquisa foi: de que modo a “voz” da pessoa com deficiência pode revelar a importância da construção de um espaço inclusivo e contribuir para a sua humanização? Seu corpus é composto de 30 entrevistas semiestruturadas feitas com um grupo de pessoas com deficiência nas áreas auditiva, visual, física e intelectual, residentes em cidades da região Norte do Estado do Paraná. Com base nas respostas, observa-se o que pensam os entrevistados sobre o ciclo da invisibilidade. A análise leva em consideração as categorias: educação, trabalho, autonomia e independência. Para dar resposta a essa pergunta, após a aplicação dos questionários e da tabulação dos dados, foi elaborado um produto educacional denominado: “A Diferença está no Saber Agir. Conheça! ”. O produto, uma espécie de livro virtual, foi publicado em site próprio para testagem na comunidade escolar. Esses dados também foram tabulados e compõem o resultado final desta pesquisa. O estudo tem por objetivo geral colaborar com a formação de professores, alunos e profissionais que atuam na escola pública no que diz respeito às suas atitudes - que podem conduzir à reflexão e à ação – frente a pessoas com deficiência, no espaço escolar e no convívio social por meio do mencionado produto educacional. Para elaborar o trabalho, foram executadas pesquisas do tipo bibliográfica, analítica, interpretativa e de campo, com o uso da metodologia da pesquisa-ação, cujo eixo é a participação da comunidade pesquisada na própria pesquisa, assim ela propõe a transformação das práticas por meio da observação e posterior ação. O ponto de partida teórico são as concepções da Política Nacional de Educação Especial na Perspectiva da Educação Inclusiva (BRASIL, 2008), a Convenção Internacional sobre os Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência (BRASIL, 2009) e o Parecer CNE/CP Nº8/2012 - Diretrizes Nacionais para a Educação em Direitos Humanos (BRASIL, 2012). Obtiveram-se resultados importantes para a instrumentalização da escola e da comunidade, visando dar subsídios para a construção de novas lógicas de ensino inclusivo e para a partilha de novos conhecimentos, permeados pelas dificuldades, frustrações, anseios e receios do grupo investigado. Que novos avanços e transformações possam gerar uma inclusão escolar e social gradativa e real.
This work has the inclusive education issue as a research subject. The issue which gave rise to the research was: how can the "opinion" of a person with disability reveal the importance of creating an inclusive space and contributing to humanization? Its corpus consists of 30 semi-structured interviews with a group of people with disabilities in auditory, visual, physical and intellectual areas, living in cities in the Northern Paraná State. Based on the responses, what the interviewees think about the invisibility cycle can be observed. The analysis takes into account the categories: education, work, autonomy and independence. In order to answer this question, after the questionnaires and data tabulation were performed, an educational product was prepared and it was called "The difference is in Knowing How to Act. Learn". The product, a kind of virtual book, was published on an own website for testing in the school community. These data were also tabulated and make up the final result of this research. The study has as a general objective to contribute to the education of teachers, students and professionals who work in public schools with regard to their attitudes - which can lead to reflection and action - when treating with people with disabilities in the school environment and in their social relations by means of the educational product. In order to prepare this work, bibliographical, analytical, interpretative and field researches were performed, with the use of action research methodology, whose axis is the participation of the community in the research itself; thus, this community proposes the transformation of practices through observation and further action. The theoretical starting point is the conception of the National Policy on Special Education in the Perspective of Inclusive Education (BRAZIL, 2008), the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (BRAZIL, 2009) and the legal opinion CNE / CP No. 8/2012 - National Guidelines for Education in Human rights (BRAZIL, 2012). Important results for theinstrumentalization of schools and community are obtained, aiming to provide subsidies for the creation of new logics regarding inclusive education and sharing new knowledge, permeated by difficulties, frustrations, anxieties and fears of the group investigated. Also, aiming that new developments and transformations generate a gradual and real educational and social inclusion.

For a long time the rights of disabled persons have been ignored worldwide. A major obstacle faced by disabled persons is discrimination in the workplace. Due to the development of a social approach to disability and the efforts of the Disability Rights Movement, legislation has been passed throughout the world to improve this dire situation. The thesis considers the efficacy of some of these statutes. It is concluded that stigma and negative stereotypes remain a constant hurdle in overcoming discrimination. The forthcoming UN Disability Convention is demonstrative of the recognition of the importance of the needs and rights of disabled people. The convention proposes some innovative measures to overcome stigma and stereotyping. Mental health problems constitute one of the leading causes of disability. The thesis explores how people with mental health problems fit within the concept of people with disabilities and whether they are included in anti-discrimination legislation and affirmative action measures. Special attention is given to statutory definitions of disability, the different forms of discrimination and the concept of reasonable accommodation. A comparative approach is taken to analyse how South Africa's disability law measures up against that of Britain and Australia in terms of its substantive provisions and enforcement thereof. In considering the South African position American and Canadian jurisprudence is consulted in order to aid in interpretation. It is concluded that although South Africa has a comparatively good legislative framework, it is held back by an overly restrictive and medically focused definition of disability. As a result many individuals with mental health difficulties, desirous of obtaining and retaining employment may be excluded from protection against discrimination in the workplace. It is argued that it will be necessary either to amend the Employment Equity Act or for the courts to adhere strictly to the concept of substantive equality in order to ensure that the rights and dignity of people with mental health difficulties are adequately protected.

This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your Honors Thesis, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by following the instructions on the distribution consent form at http://library.ucf.edu/Systems/DigitalInitiatives/DigitalCollections/InternetDistributionConsentAgreementForm.pdf You may also contact the project coordinator, Kerri Bottorff, at kerri.bottorff@ucf.edu for more information.
Bachelors
Health and Public Affairs
Legal Studies

The evaluation of the implementation of disability policies is a result of the low rate of public participation in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature’s programs as well as the low number of disabled persons who are employed. Institutions like Parliaments and Legislatures are law making institutions, some of their tasks in to attract comments, suggestions and ideas from all interested parties to participate in the law making process. They also have a responsibility to conduct vigorous oversight over the provincial government departments; this includes issues like compliance with the relevant policies and regulations. The data was collect from three different groupings namely the staff of ECPL, the members of provincial legislature as well as the general public which includes disabled persons. It was clear from the findings that the management and the MPL, who are decision makers of the institution, have a very shallow knowledge of the disability policies and regulations. There is a disability strategy which was made for all the legislatures and National Parliament; however the strategy has not been implemented in ECPL. The institution has to create a special programs unit that will promote equality in line with the Bill of Rights which enshrines the rights of all people in the country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. The recommendations that were made included education and awareness programs and compliance with regulations like the Employment Equity Act that seeks to unsure that the employment equity targets are met.

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that employers provide "reasonable accommodations" for qualified individuals who have a disability, provided that doing so does not result in "undue hardship". There are several guidelines that employers have been given to evaluate the reasonableness of job accommodations. Unfortunately, these guidelines have been criticized as being vague and ambiguous. Specific factors considered when determining whether or not to grant an accommodation under the ADA have yet to be examined in psychological research. The current study evaluated the impact of cost of accommodations, position level of the employee, and attitudes of raters for their effects on judgements of the reasonableness of requests and on subjects' likelihood of honoring requests. Results showed that accommodations were rated as more reasonable and were recommended to be honored more often for higher level positions than for lower level positions. Measures of attitudes toward disabled persons, both in general and in the workplace, did not have many significant correlations with the dependent measures. Implications of the findings and ideas for future research are discussed.

This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your Honors Thesis, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by following the instructions on the distribution consent form at http://library.ucf.edu/Systems/DigitalInitiatives/DigitalCollections/InternetDistributionConsentAgreementForm.pdf You may also contact the project coordinator, Kerri Bottorff, at kerri.bottorff@ucf.edu for more information.
Bachelors
Health and Public Affairs
Legal Studies

This study surveyed 107 working college students with varying disabilities. Individual, job, and organizational characteristics were evaluated for their ability to predict job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover cognitions. One area this characteristic that was explored was that of an individual's perception of organizational resources related to legally mandated reasonable accommodations. Using hierarchal regression this study found that self-efficacy, job characteristics, and means-efficacy were key predictors of job satisfaction. Means-efficacy was the only one of these that was a predictor of turnover intentions.

Thesis (MSc (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy. Centre for Rehabilitation Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Purpose To date no health policy analysis tool has been developed to analyse access and equity for people with disabilities. Further, there is very little information available on health and disability policy implementation. The intention of this research is to develop a health policy framework to analyse access and equity, focussing on people with disabilities, that can be used by policy makers. This research analyses four health policies and focuses on the facilitators and the implementation barriers. The findings of this research will impact on new policies developed in the future. Method The study included both a desk - top review and a descriptive study. The desk - top review entailed the formulation of a disability - focussed framework for health policy. This was then used to analyse health policies in terms of their disability inclusiveness. Qualitative data was gathered from interviews and questionnaires and focussed on policy processes and implementation. This was incorporated into the analysis. An ideal seven - step policy process model was developed. This was used to compare the reported policy process with the four policies followed. The four health policies used in the research are: the Primary Health Care Policy, the National Rehabilitation Policy, the Provision of Assistive Devices Guidelines and the Free Health Care Policy. Four key informants with extensive experience and knowledge were interviewed on policy processes and implementation. Questionnaires were also sent to Provincial Rehabilitation Managers to obtain their viewpoints on barriers and facilitators to policy implementation. Results Analysis of the four health policies showed varying levels of access and equity features. In terms of policy processes: all four policies had different stakeholders who initiated the policy development process. Two of the policies viz. the National Rehabilitation Policy and the Provision of Assistive Devices Guidelines, had people with disabilities as part of the stakeholder group involved in the policy formulation. The National Rehabilitation Policy had a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation section whereas this was absent in the other three policies. From the information gained from interviews and questionnaires, it appeared that the barriers to policy implementation included: attitudes, environmental access, human and financial resources. Facilitators to policy implementation include: policy process and design, availability of human and financial resources, support systems, management support, organisational structures and finally positive attitudes that all impacted favourably on policy implementation. Conclusions The developed health policy analysis framework served its purpose. Most policies did not have monitoring and evaluation guidelines that make implementation difficult to assess. Recommendations are made to improve policy design and content, specifically related to access and equity. Intersectoral collaboration and disability coordination needs to be improved. People with disabilities also need to engage with government departments, to monitor implemented policies and to advocate for change from outside the health system.

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The Constitution establishes that people with disabilities that cannot provide their own maintenance nor have it provided by their families have the right to receive a Continuous Cash Benefit (Article 203, V). The constitutional intention of aiding extremely poor individuals with disabilities was restricted by the ordinary legislation regulating this fundamental right, for it has established a very narrow economic standard to define who must receive the Continuous Cash Benefit (Article 20, § 3º, Federal Law n. 8.742/93). Faced with these difficulties, the Judiciary started considering the Article 203, V, of the Brazilian Constitution no longer as a norm of limited effectiveness (programmatic norm), but as a constitutional principle (optimization requirement), even though judges do not state this conclusion expressly. As a result, the Judiciary extended the application of the Article 203, V, of the Brazilian Constitution, using its own standards to assess the claimant’s poverty. Such interpretation is compatible with a social constitutionalism, engaged with the effectiveness of the constitutional provisions, in particular those establishing fundamental rights, despite the fact that there is still room for improvements so as to ensure access to justice and legal certainty. To work with these ideas, we will analyze the theoretical aspects that involve the Continuous Cash Benefit in its classical conception of a norm of limited effectiveness as well as in the sense of a constitutional principle (a definition that is more in accordance with the contemporary constitutionalism). We will also analyze how the Judiciary has altered its understanding in the matter at hand, either in the Brazilian Supreme Court (which recognized the unconstitutionality of the Article 20, § 3º, of the Federal Law n. 8.742/93), or in the ordinary courts, identifying the judicial standards to assess the claimant’s poverty. At that point, we will be able to assert that the Continuous Cash Benefit no longer maintains a total dependence on the regulative legislation; on the contrary, its normativity derives from its condition of a constitutional principle
O texto constitucional garantiu às pessoas com deficiência que não possam prover a sua própria manutenção ou de tê-la provida por sua família um benefício de prestação continuada correspondente a um salário mínimo (art. 203, V). A intenção constitucional de amparar pessoas com deficiência em estado de miserabilidade restou restrita pela legislação ordinária regulamentadora do direito fundamental em referência, que previu um estreito critério econômico para definir quem faria jus ao seu recebimento (art. 20, § 3º, da Lei n. 8.742/93). Diante disso, o Judiciário tomou a dianteira em considerar o art. 203, V, da Lei Maior não mais como uma mera norma constitucional de eficácia limitada (programática), mas, sobretudo, enquanto um princípio constitucional (mandado de otimização), ainda que por vezes não declare essa conclusão expressamente. Ao encarar o direito fundamental das pessoas com deficiência ao recebimento de um benefício assistencial como um autêntico princípio constitucional, o Judiciário alargou a aplicação que se fazia do art. 203, V, da Constituição, recorrendo a critérios próprios para aferir a miserabilidade do requerente. Tal postura, como teremos oportunidade de assentar no desenvolvimento do presente trabalho, se revela compatível com um constitucionalismo dirigente e engajado com a efetividade das disposições constitucionais, mormente aquelas que albergam direitos fundamentais, não obstante a atual sistemática da concessão judicial do benefício assistencial admita alguns refinamentos, a fim de atender mais decisivamente aos imperativos de acesso à justiça e de segurança jurídica. Para trabalharmos com essas ideias, enfrentaremos os aspectos teóricos que envolvem o benefício de prestação continuada, seja na sua concepção clássica de norma de eficácia limitada, seja na acepção mais condizente com o constitucionalismo contemporâneo que o toma por princípio constitucional. Passaremos em revista como o Judiciário alterou profundamente sua compreensão a respeito da temática em apreço, tanto no âmbito do Supremo Tribunal Federal (que reconheceu a inconstitucionalidade do art. 20, § 3º, da Lei n. 8.742/93), quanto nas instâncias ordinárias, perquirindo os critérios que foram concebidos pela jurisprudência pátria para apurar a real miserabilidade da pessoa com deficiência. Por aí, poderemos atestar como o direito fundamental ao benefício assistencial não mantém mais uma dependência total da legislação integrativa, mas haure sua normatividade de sua própria condição principiológica

Award date: 20 June 2013
Supervisor: Dr. Claire Kilpatrick, European University Institute.
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digital archive of EUI PhD theses
The thesis examines the innovations introduced by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the international human rights arena. It addresses three separate aspects of the Convention, i.e., its drafting process, its general and substantive provisions, and its provisions on implementation and monitoring. The main focus of the thesis is on the innovative mechanisms for stronger social rights realisation found within the general and substantive provisions of the Convention. The thesis argues that the Convention’s innovative use of nondiscrimination, equality, and social participation mechanisms presents a new tool that moves social rights closer to civil rights and consequently provides an effective framework for their stronger realisation. The drafting process and the implementation provisions are analysed to the extent to which they relate to the stronger social rights realisation. The thesis argues that the innovations in the drafting process affected the experimental nature of the Convention’s content and explores the future implications of stakeholder participation in the Convention’s drafting process by comparing it to the drafting of other relevant international treaties. The innovations within the implementation and monitoring provisions are relevant to the fostering of social rights, since these provisions are tasked with transforming the Convention’s text into an actual lever of change. The thesis identifies the problems currently faced by the treaty bodies, and provides an overview of the CRPD’s mechanisms to address such problems. The thesis aims to determine whether these innovations are CRPD specific, or part of a broader trend in international human rights law and to offer some concluding remarks on the Convention’s innovative mechanisms, particularly where they relate to fostering the stronger realisation of social rights and their potential to produce effects beyond the scope of disability law.

Defence date: 6 December 1993
Examining Board: Prof. Erian Bercusson, European University Institute (supervisor) ; Dr. Lammy Betten, Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht ; Prof. Ad Geers, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg ; Prof. Yota Kravaritou-Manitakis, European University Institute ; Dr. Christopher McCrudden, Lincoln College, Oxford
First made available online on 26 January 2017.
To be a disabled citizen of the European Community at the present time means to be disadvantaged. Naturally the degree of that disadvantage varies between individuals, even between individuals with similar impairments, but its discriminatory nature does not. The disadvantage stems primarily from the institutionalised forms of discrimination which people with impairments are forced to confront every day of their lives. These involve physical (architectural) barriers, assumptions of inferiority, inflexible structures and organisations, and the very conception of "normality”. This discrimination touches every aspect of life - education, relationships, social activities, housing and employment, and marginalises some ten per cent of the Community’s population, i.e. no less than 33 million people. Up until now the adoption and implementation of measures to improve the quality of life available to disabled people and to promote their integration has been regarded as largely the prerogative of Member States. This approach can no longer be regarded as satisfactory in a period when the Community is increasingly coming to exert an influence over many of the areas which directly affect or influence the life of its disabled citizens: the establishment of the internal market, harmonisation of standards and goods, free movement of persons, vocational training and the mutual recognition of diplomas to mention but a few. It is the argument of this thesis that Community intervention, which respects the principle of subsidiarity, is now called for in certain fields of disability policy. The most obvious area for such intervention, given the primarily economic nature of the original EEC Treaty and much of the subsequent Community legislation, is the employment of disabled people - although it must be recognised that the desired economic integration cannot occur without complementary measures to promote social integration. The focus of this thesis shall therefore be the need, scope and possible content of a European Community policy to promote the employment of people with disabilities.

In recent years, the enforcement of Canadian human rights statutes has been the subject of much criticism. That criticism comes not only from organizations that are required to change their practices to comply with the statutes, but from advocates who question the effectiveness of human rights enforcement. Studies which attempt to address these criticisms generally review the criticisms and then seek to modify the enforcement models to ameliorate the problems which have generated the criticism. This thesis considers the problem from a more theoretical perspective. With a focus on disability, this thesis considers whether Canadian anti-discrimination statutes, which were created when the prevailing theory of equality was a formal one, are capable of achieving substantive equality as it is now conceived. Applying a disability rights perspective, substantive equality for people with disabilities requires that a wide and complex variety of barriers be removed. These barriers may result from intended or unintended discrimination. They may be physical or attitudinal. They may be isolated, individual acts or they may reflect widespread societal norms. To eliminate such an array of barriers, anti-discrimination statutes must include a range of powers and procedures: they must incorporate provisions that protect people with disabilities from such barriers; they must provide mechanisms to identify the barriers; there must be mechanisms to determine whether the barriers contravene the protected right; and the statutes must provide effective remedies. This thesis concludes that contemporary human rights enforcement models are capable of effectively addressing many individual barriers to equality for people with disabilities. However, under a complaint-based model, human rights agencies cannot effectively address barriers that result from the operation of widespread norms. Canadian human rights agencies are therefore limited in their ability to achieve the societal transformation that is necessary to achieve substantive equality for people with disabilities. For such equality to be realized, anti-discrimination statutes must be seen as just one facet of a much broader approach.
Law, Peter A. Allard School of
Graduate

LL.D.
This study aims to investigate the different ways in which the position of people with disabilities can be addressed. Antidiscrimination legislation can play a very important role. Efforts to create equal opportunities must, however, not be limited to legislative initiatives and policy declarations. There is an urgent need for education and training of this minority group. 7 Systematic efforts to heighten public awareness of civil rights and in particular the recognition of the rights of the disabled community are imperative. This study aims to bring home the truth that "disability rights are an idea and ideal whose time has come. ,, When addressing the issue of disability discrimination (or for that matter any kind of discrimination) several principles need to be addressed, the most important being the following: The meaning of the concept of "equality" needs to be established. The fact that all people are equal, does not necessarily mean that all people must be treated the same. When speaking about disability discrimination one must know who forms part of the protected class. For that reason the first issue that must be addressed is the definition of "disability": This leads to the next question, namely which individuals should be protected by anti-discrimination laws and should they benefit from affirmative action measures? What is meant by the term "discrimination"? Is it at all permissible to distinguish between groups of people and, if so, when and which standards are to be applied? What role can anti-discrimination legislation fulfil in the struggle for equality? When dealing with anti-discrimination legislation, what is required in order to prove discrimination and what remedies must be available to an aggrieved party? Normally, in case of criminal action proof is required beyond reasonable doubt and in case of civil action on the balance of probabilities. 10 Civil action offers more effective remedies, but should it be punitive in nature (by awarding damages to the aggrieved party) or non-punitive (by putting the aggrieved party in his/her "rightful place")? What sort of enforcement mechanism is needed? Is it a task for the ordinary tribunals or rather a special body created for that purpose? What defences should be available to an employer accused of discriminatory practices? Who should benefit from enforcement? Only the individual victim or all members of that group? Is anti-discrimination legislation sufficient or is something in addition called for? If positive measures are required, what form must these measures take? This study will address these questions specifically with relation to people with disabilities.The "equality principle" will first be studied. Thereafter the concept of "disability" will be defined. There is a movement away from a medical model of disability towards a social model that takes account of the disabling effects of attitudes and structural barriers on the position of disabled people. Then the concept of "discrimination" will be addressed. Discrimination has many different forms and can take place in different contexts In the following chapter possible solutions to the problem of disability discrimination will be raised. Thereafter follows an important comparative analysis of different jurisdictions on international, supra-national and national level. Different jurisdictions have reached different stages in addressing this problem. The factual analysis of each jurisdiction will include the existence of any anti-discrimination legislative measures, the scope of the protected class, applicable employment provisions, defences available to employers, and the success achieved in addressing the problem. The contentious issue of affirmative action measures will also be addressed. By drawing inferences from the comparative study, suggestions will be made for future developments in South Africa. The conclusion is reached that it is imperative for South Africa to draft disability anti-discrimination legislation that takes account of the needs of this minority group. Legislative initiatives, however, are not enough and must be supported by various programmes aimed at the disabled themselves and the community that they live in. Only then can human rights become a reality also for people with disabilities.

The study took place in the Department of Health. It involved four districts and the Head Office of the human resource planning component. Its purpose was to explore the extent to which the Employment Equity Act is implemented in respect of people with disabilities by the Department of Health, KwazuluNatal. The experiences and perceptions of employment equity officers and people with disabilities were explored. In addition the document on Gap Analysis on EEA was analyzed. Qualitative methodology guided the explorative descriptive nature of the research. The sample selected for the study aimed at balancing opinions on the subject under investigation. Data was collected through structured questionnaires, in depth interviews and content analysis of the departmental Gap Report on Employment Equity. The main findings revealed that there is a wide gap between the current status quo and achieving the desired objectives of the Act. There is also a lack of awareness among People with disabilities in understanding the legal rights in terms of the Act. This situation weakens stakeholder's participation in implementation of the Employment Equity Act NO.55 of 1998. The main recommendations related to the implementation of intensive training programmes, in order to assist stakeholders to participate effectively in Employment Equity Act programmes. A bottom up approach on implementation of the Employment Equity Act was recommended. This will help to ensure equal participation of and acceptance of the process by People with disabilities and employment equity officers.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Since 1994, various policies and guidelines, pertaining to the employment of people with disabilities have been promulgated. All of these policies highlighted the importance of employment equity and equality within the working environment. Despite all these policies and guidelines people with disabilities are still experiencing barriers within the working environment. These barriers prevent them from functioning optimally and equally alongside able-bodied colleagues. The requirements of people with disabilities are still not integrated into the general considerations of the workplace. In order to determine what factors people with physical disabilities perceive as important with regard to equality in the workplace, a combination of a qualitative and quantitative research approach were followed. Both convenient and Snowball/Chain sampling was utilised to identify the research participants. The data was gathered by means of an intensive literature study, as well as utilisation of surveys and interviews. After analysing the data, specific conclusions could be made. The sample was not representative of the total population, so these conclusions could not be generalised, it could however indicate certain trends. The conclusions with regard to the study could be utilised to improve the management of employees with physical disabilities in order to promote workplace equality. Certain recommendations in this regard have been made. Recommendations on how social workers could assist with the attainment of workplace equality for employees with disabilities have also been made.
Social Work
M.A. (Social Science)

Despite the fact that albinism affects several South Africans, it is a condition that remains deeply misunderstood. Albinism is steeped in myth and false notions, and is perceived by many as a curse and contamination. For years, persons living with albinism have been treated with doubt and suspicion. Also in schools and in the wider community, children with albinism are subjected to violence and ridicule. In certain areas on the African continent, including Southern Africa, persons living with albinism are killed for the trade in body parts for use as sacramental medicines, or sexually assaulted as a result of the belief that raping them may offer a cure for HIV/AIDS. All of this highlights the extreme vulnerability of persons living with albinism, not to mention the many violations of their fundamental rights that follow from the manner in which they are treated. Within the social context that frames the experience of persons living with albinism, the primary purpose of this study is to highlight some of the pertinent challenges faced by persons living with albinism in South Africa which compromise the full enjoyment of their fundamental rights as enshrined in the South African Constitution. The thesis makes a number of practical recommendations that will assist in promoting the legal position of this vulnerable group, while also contributing to a better understanding of albinism in general which will ultimately change negative perceptions and debunk the myths surrounding the condition.
Jurisprudence
LL. D.