Egyptian law: Discriminating against Differently-abled people to be punished by imprisonment

CAIRO - 28 March 2022: Egypt Today highlights in this piece articles of law guaranteeing rights of people with disabilities, by setting out penalties for endangering the, or discriminating against them. 

 

Law No. 10 of 2018 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities determines that endangering a person or child with a disability or threatening respect for their dignity are acts that will be punished by imprisonment. 

 

In this regard, the law imposed a penalty of imprisonment for a period of no less than 6 months and a fine of no less than 5,000 pounds and not more than 50,000 pounds for anyone who puts people with special needs at risk.

 

According to the text of Article 46, a person or a child with a disability is considered to be at risk, “in any situation that threatens respect for his personal dignity and autonomy and discrimination against him because of his disability” in the following cases:

 

1- If his security, morals, health or life are endangered.

 

2- Imprisoning a person with a disability or isolating him from society without a legal basis or refraining from providing him with medical, rehabilitative, community or legal care.

 

3- Assault by beating children with disabilities in institutions of deposition and rehabilitation, nurseries and educational institutions, or sexual assault, abuse, threat or exploitation of them.

 

4- Using therapeutic methods or medical experiments that harm a person or a child with disabilities without a legal basis.

 

5- Presence of children or persons with disabilities in classes on the upper floors of public or private schools without providing the means of availability and preparation for their special circumstances.

 

6- Not providing the necessary treatment for children with disabilities, and not providing the necessary food items for children with intellectual disabilities, especially in cases of metabolism (diet).

 

7- Failure to provide spatial, security, and guidance preparations for persons with disabilities in their workplaces, exposing them to violence, humiliation, insult or hatred, and inciting any of that.

 

8- Placing persons with disabilities in special institutions to get rid of them because they are persons with disabilities in cases other than those that require such deposit.