Challenges of Practical Application of the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Croatia

Prisutnost invaliditeta rezultira većom vjerojatnošću da se osobe s invaliditetom nađu u riziku od kršenja ljudskih prava nego li osobe bez invaliditeta upravo to je bio glavni razlog zbog kojeg su Ujedinjeni Narodi 2006. Usvojili Konvenciju o pravima osoba s invaliditetom koju je hrvatska ratificirala 1. lipnja 2007. Cilj našeg rada jest analizirati poteškoće s kojima se u ostvarivanju svojih prava zagarantiranih Konvencijom susreću osobe s invaliditetom u Republici Hrvatskoj. Na temelju provedene analize zaključujemo kako su nakon ratifikacije Konvencije postignuti određeni pomaci u zakonskoj regulativi, ali i praksi koja se bavi pravima osoba s invalitetom na mnogim područjima: pristupačnost, zapošljavanje, poslovna sposobnost, politička participacija,uključenost u zajednicu. Također je važno istaknuti kako smo uočili i mnogo prostora za napredak u primjeni većine članaka konvencije, a posebice u onima koji se tiču usklađivanje nacionalne regulative s odredbama Konvencije inkluzivnog obrazovanja, zapošljavanje, pristupačnosti te socijalne zaštite i primjerenog životnog standarda osoba s invaliditetom, a koje ujedno smatramo najvažnijima za postizanje punoptavnog uključivanja osoba s invaliditetom u hrvatsko društvo. Smatramo kako je upravo grana socijalne politike ona koja ima ključnu ulogu u poboljšanju primjene Konvencije o pravima o kroz izmjenu relevantnih zakonskih propisa u skladu s Konvencijom te donošenju kvalitetnih programa i strategija koje će na stručan način značajno doprinijeti praktičnoj implementaciji Konvencije.The presence of disability results in a higher probability that people with disabilities will be at risk of human rights violations more than people without disabilities, that was the main reason why the United Nations adopted the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities which was ratified by Croatia on first of June 2007 . The aim of our work is to analyze the difficulties which persons with disabilities are faced in the Republic of Croatia in exercising their rights guaranteed by the Convention. Based on the conducted analysis, we conclude that, after the ratification of the Convention, certain improvement have been made in the legislation, but also in the practical application rights of persons with disabilities in many areas accessibility, employment, legal capacity, political participation. It is also important to point out that we have noticed a lot of space for progress in the implementation of most articles of the Convention, particularly those concerning the harmonization of national regulations with the provisions of the Convention on Inclusive Education, Employment, Accessibility and Social Protection we also consider them the most important to achieve full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Croatian society. We consider that the branch of social policy plays a key role in improving the application of the Convention on the rights of persons through the amendments on relevant legislative regulations in accordance with the Convention and the adoption of quality programs and strategies that will in a professional way contribute significantly to the practical implementation of the Convention