The impact of the equal opportunities (persons with disability) act on the public administration in Malta (2000-2014)

Abstract

The first collective activism with regards to disability rights traces back to the 1960s and 1970s. Movements of disabled people started demanding rights and the ability to participate actively in society. Around the world, various countries began to discuss and enact legislations to protect the rights of disabled people. Malta is no exception and in January 2000 the Maltese Parliament legislated unanimously the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act. The main aim of this study was to analyse the impact of this Act (Cap. 413) on the public administration in Malta throughout its first fifteen years. It also takes into consideration the proceedings of the consultation process with regards to the revision of this Act, initiated in 2014, which led to the amendments approved by the Maltese Parliament in 2016. Through the triangulation method, this study focused on complaints received by the Equal Opportunities Unit within the National Commission Persons with Disability (KNPD) with regards to the public administration, taking into consideration public officials’ perspective of the law and its implementation within their Ministry and the views of the past and present KNPD Chairpersons with regards to the impact of the Act on the Maltese public administration and how its effect can be further advanced. The results show that although the enactment of this Act was imperative, it failed to bring about the paradigm shift needed to eliminate the disabling barriers which are ingrained in our society.