Rights of the disabled in Saudi Arabia : formal policies

Abstract EN

It is estimated that approximately 10% of the world's population suffer from some or the other form of disability.

The basic human rights of this section of the society are routinely being denied in the countries without a proper legislation to deal with the rights of the disabled.

Saudi National Survey has projected that approximately 4% of the population in Saudi Arabia suffer from some or the other form of disability1.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia there have been consistent efforts to protect the rights of the disabled through various legislations in the last three decades.

Finally, in the year 2000.

the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahad Bin Abdul A/i / approved the new legislation called “Disabled Care System'1 to safeguard the rights of the disabled.

There are sixteen articles in the new legislation.

The first of which presents definitions for the terms disabled, disability, protection prevention, care, rehabilitation and higher council.

The second article surveys specialized centres that provide prevention, care, and rehabilitation services to disabled in the fields of health, education, training, rehabilitation, work, social, cultural, sports, information, and complementary services.

The other articles define engineering and architectural conditions and specifications of disableds’ needs and requirements, privileges and facilities offered by the state for the disabled, establishment of the disabled care fund, establishment of a Higher Council for disableds' affairs which is linked to the head of the council of ministers, etc.

Implementation of such a comprehensive legislation to safeguard the rights of the disabled will open up a new era in the care of the disabled and their rehabilitation in the kingdom.

It will enable the disabled to enjoy the same rights as received b> any other citizen of the nation.