Global Movements on Disability and Japanese Disability Policy

  • * The Declaration of Mentally Disabled Persons
  • ** The Declaration of Disabled Persons
  1. The International Year of Disabled Persons (1981)
  2. The World Program of Action concerning Disabled Persons (1982)
  3. The UN Decade of Disabled Persons (1983 – 1992)
  4. The UNESCAP Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993 – 2002 and 2003 – 2012)
  5. The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993)
  6. Contribution of ILO, WHO and other UN special agencies
  7. UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

*ADA (Americans with Disabilities ACT) in1990 and its influence to the world disability movements

2. Japanese Disability Policy

  1. First Disability Policy・・・The Fundamental Law on Disabled People
  2. Responsibility of Nation, National Government and Local governments
  3. Fundamental policies
  4. Movements of disabled people individual organizations’ movements and united movements

*Video : Rehabilitation in Japan (JSRPD 1985), Breaking Barriers (UN 1982)

Disabled Persons’ Fundamental Law

● Article 1 (Purpose of the Law) :

The purpose of this law is to advance the welfare of disabled persons by establishing the fundamental principles, by clarifying the responsibilities of the State, Local Public Entities and the etc. and by the comprehensive and systematic promoting programs regarding measures to support for the independence and social participation of disabled persons.

● Article 2 (Definition) :

“Disabled persons” as used in this Law means persons whose daily life or social life is substantially limited continuously due to a physical, intellectual or mental disability.

● Article 3 (Fundamental Principles) :

  1. All disabled persons shall be respected for their human dignity and shall have the right to have their lives suite to the dignity.
  2. All disabled persons shall, as members of society, be ensured the opportunities to participate fully in the social, economic cultural and all other activities of the society.
  3. No one can discriminate against disabled persons on the basis of disability and disturb their rights unreasonably.

● Article 4 (Responsibilities of the State and Local Public Entities) :

“Disabled persons” as used in this Law means persons whose daily lifThe State and local public bodies shall be responsible for promoting the welfare of disabled persons through the measures of advocating, preventing the discrimination and supporting independence and social participation.

● Article 5 (Understanding of the Nation) :

“Disabled persons” as used in this Law means persons whose daily lifThe State and local public bodies shall take necessary measures to promote righteous understanding of nation in regard to disabled persons

● Article 6 (Responsibilities of the Nation) :

  1. The nation shall, on the basis of the principle of social solidarity, endeavor to cooperate in promoting the welfare of disabled persons.
  2. The Nation shall, on the basis of the principle of social solidarity, endeavor to establish the society where the rights of disabled persons are respected and no unreasonable discrimination against disabled persons.

Fundamental Policies for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (Title of Article13 to 24)

  • Medicine, Care
  • Pensions
  • Education
  • Employment Promotion
  • Securing Housing
  • Barrier – Free of Building, Transportation and Communication
  • Consultation
  • Deduction of Economic Burden
  • Cultural Conditions
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