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April 14, 2008
New law improves public access for disabled-Korea
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
A civil rights law that protects disabled persons from discrimination took effect in Korea on Friday (April 11), removing barriers that blocked the disabled from access to restaurants, polling stations and public toilets.
Employers who have facilities that do not comply with the Disabled Discrimination Prevention Act can be fined or face criminal punishment, according to the law enacted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Korea already has the Disabled Convenience Promotion Law that seeks to ensure employment and assistance in some public facilities for the physically handicapped, but under that law individuals have no right to seek compensation from organizations that do not comply.
"The previous law defined disabled people as the weak of society and defended them with affirmative action, but the new law intends to let them live as normal a life as possible with assistance," said Shin Eun-gyeong, a ministry official who prepared the law.
Under the new law, disabled individuals can receive sign language service at all events hosted by public organizations.
Assistants should be available close to ballot boxes to help the disabled participate. Companies with more than 300 employees, public schools and private special schools should have ramps, elevators and height-adjustable desks for those in wheelchairs.
The ministry prepared the new law after consultations with organizations for the disabled. The Cabinet of the Lee Myung-bak administration approved it early this month.
The new law provides for a one-year preparation period, and will start levying punishment on April 11, 2009, the ministry said.
If they feel discriminated against, disabled individuals can appeal to the National Human Rights Commission that will investigate complaints so that the Ministry of Justice can order corrective measures if necessary. In addition, the disabled could file a civil or criminal complaint. In those cases, the employer could be sentenced to up to three years in prison or fined 30 million won ($30,000) maximum if malicious intentions are proven.
Disabled organizations welcomed the law in principle but said details are too vague and loose.
"The key issue here is convenience. Disabled people can’t go eat in restaurants and use public toilets if they don’t have the right facilities," Hong Hyeon-geun of the Korea Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities, said.
The new law, for example, requires buildings with more than six floors to be equipped with elevators, but lower buildings are not subject to that requirement, he said.
http://www.kois.go.kr/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20080411005&part=109&SearchDay
Posted by jicafriends at April 14, 2008 05:52 PM