TUVALU, Disability Country Profile
 CONSTITUTION Constitution date 1978. In addition to the main Parliament, there are island Councils, so that in terms of DPO/Governmental relationships, these bodies will require to be taken into account. HUMAN RIGHTS The Constitution guarantees freedom from discrimination. Disability is not specifically mentioned as a ground for discrimination. There is a need for public awareness promotion about disability, its effects, and particularly, causative factors of preventable or remedial disability. The Office of the Peoples Lawyer was established in 1985. The Constitution gives a right to apply to the High Court to enforce the Bill of Rights. SIGNATORY TO THE UNESCAP PROCLAMATION ON THE FULL PARTICIPATION AND EQUALITY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION Has not signed. FOCAL POINT ON DISABILITY WITHIN GOVERNMENT N/A DISABILITY SPECIFIC LEGISLATION N/A NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE OR NATIONAL N/A DISABILITY COUNCIL N/A NATIONAL DISABILITY POLICY AND ACTION-PLAN N/A DISABILITY STATISTICS AND DATA COLLECTION N/A SELF-HELP ORGANISATIONS There is the Tuvalu Association of Non Governmental Organisations, TANGO, which in conjunction with the Tuvalu Red Cross has gathered some data in relation to persons with a disability in 2002. It reported there was little Government or community support for persons with a disability. A disabled person from Tuvalu attended the inaugural meeting of the Pacific Disability Forum in July 2004. It was his intention to try and form an organization of people with disabilities on his return home WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES Tuvalu ratified CEDAW in 1997, and CRC in 1995. EARLY DETECTION, EARLY INTERVENTION AND EDUCATION The Red Cross has run a programme for children with disabilities since the 1990s. Teachers were sent to Fiji to the Early Intervention Centre in Suva for training. Local Councils have a function to provide compulsory education for children between the ages of 5 and 15. From 1988 to 1998 there was a separate school for disabled children, run with charitable assistance, and now some children with disabilities attend primary school. The Needs Assessment Report indicates that the proportion of children with disabilities in schools is relatively high, but teacher training has not kept pace with need. In keeping with many Pacific countries, the incidence of diabetes and nutrition related disability is increasing, and the health system is not equipped to facilitate early detection, intervention or preventative tasks, although all islands have health clinics. Expansion of immunization programmes is suggested in the Needs Assessment. TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT There is a need for workplace safety training in infrastructure facilities and transport to prevent permanent or temporary disability by injury. ACCESS TO BUILT ENVIRONMENTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT Local Councils have authority over the erection of buildings, but there is no specific mention of access for persons with a disability ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS No specific information held. POVERTY ALLEVIATION No specific information held. CRIMINAL LAW Criminal Codes. There is a presumption of sanity unless proved otherwise. There is no criminal responsibility for act or omission for any person if he is through any disease affecting his mind incapable of understanding what he is doing or knowing that he ought not to do the act or omission. There is an offence to have sexual intercourse with any female idiot or imbecile woman or girl. There is a duty to provide the necessaries of life. Return to Disability Country Profiles homepage | Disability homepage | Top of page |
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