Protection of the Rights of the Disabled

After the promulgation of the General Law on Persons with Disabilities in Peru in 2012, the country’s Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE) took up the task of developing draft regulations for the labor section of that law. With this objective, the Directors of the MTPE who were responsible for leading the development of the regulations visited the Secretariat of Labor Inspection of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) of Brazil. There they were able to gather information and learn about strategies developed by Brazil to protect persons with disabilities. 
 
Among its main findings, the Peruvian delegation underscored the execution of the National Plan on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – “Living without Limits,” and the application of a Quota Law as part of Brazil’s specific policy for promoting full social inclusion for persons with disabilities. Also highlighted were the elements that characterize this policy: a focus on rights in actions taken by the state, a commitment to action led by the higher levels of the state hierarchy, multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral public intervention, and social dialogue. 
 
In their Final Report, the Peruvian officials identified, among the main steps to take: review and evaluate national policies geared toward persons with disabilities, promote the commitment of the highest levels of government, and evaluate the various services that the MTPE provides with the aim of implementing administrative and regulatory changes that would guarantee full accessibility for persons with disabilities. Finally, and as the conclusion of this activity, they highlighted that labor laws, plans, programs, and other instruments that contribute to guaranteeing protection for persons with disabilities in Brazil serve as a frame of reference for the standards that could be adopted in Peru.