The campaign led by organisations of people with disabilities in Slovenia to include ‘disability’ into Article 14 of the Slovene Constitution has successfully been finished!
In the National Assembly session of April 2004, a qualified majority of Slovenian Members of Parliament supported the inclusion of ‘disability’ into Article 14 of the Slovene Constitution. After the second voting the decision was taken to start the parliamentary procedure to amend the Constitution. The Constitutional Commission formulated the final text of Article 14. Final voting in Parliament was on 16 June 2004. The Constitutional Law on Article 14 was accepted with 70 votes in favour and one vote against.
The decree that proclaims the Constitutional Law to change Article 14 of the Slovene Constitution was accepted by 67 votes from the quorum of 69 Members of Parliament on 23 June 2004. It was a historic moment for people with disabilities in Slovenia. The Slovene Constitution needs to have more laws implemented in the future so that people with disabilities become citizens with equal rights. The decree is a basis and a compass for these future implementations.
Article 14 of the Constitution now reads as follows:
“According to this Law, disabled people are guaranteed the security and job training. Children suffering from disturbances in their physical or mental development, and other seriously hindered persons have the right to receive education and training to promote their active participation in society. Education and training mentioned in the previous paragraph shall be financed from public funds.”
The Council of Disability Organisations of Slovenia expressed their satisfaction with these amendments that had namely been proposed by disability organisations themselves (in spite of a strong opposition). Undoubtedly, this is another milestone in the disability movement. In this way, disabled people and the disability in general were recognised the social identity which is now guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia.
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