Accessibility Laws Around the World
Types of laws
Accessibility laws around the world may be civil laws, procurement laws, or industry-specific laws.
Civil laws
Civil laws emphasize equal rights for people with disabilities.
They often make it illegal to discriminate against someone with a disability.
Procurement laws
Procurement laws emphasize taking accessibility into account when making purchases and/or contracting for services.
Industry-specific laws
Industry-specific laws apply to industries where accessibility is critical, such as communication and travel.
Accessibility laws around the world
This lesson includes international human rights instruments and examples of accessibility requirements in specific countries.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948 after being drafted by representatives from around the world.
The declaration set out that fundamental human rights should be universally protected for all people.
It inspired and paved the way for more than 70 human rights treaties and laws around the world.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, or CRPD, was adopted by the United Nations in 2006 and opened for signatures in 2007.
It was the first human rights convention of the 21st century and took force in 2008.
This convention takes attitudes and approaches to people with disabilities to new heights. It changes the framing from viewing disabled individuals as objects to viewing people with disabilities as subjects who can claim their rights and do much more.
The Marrakesh Treaty
The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted in 2013 and entered into force in 2016.
It is administered by WIPO and aims to make the production and international transfer of specially adapted books for blind and visually impaired people easier.
It does this by setting limitations and exceptions on traditional copyright law.
The Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities
This convention reaffirms that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else, including freedom from discrimination based on disability.
It also outlines objectives and actionable steps to achieve complete elimination of discrimination based on disability.
The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights is an international human rights instrument to promote and protect human rights and basic freedoms in the African continent.
This charter is divided into parts and chapters that cover:
- Rights
- Duties
- Measures of safeguard
- Mandates
- Provisions
Laws in other countries
Japan
Central and local government websites must comply with Japanese Industrial Standard, or JIS, X 8341, which is based on WCAG.
Japan also has the Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities.
That act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires organizations to provide necessary accommodations.
New Zealand
Government websites must comply with:
- Web Accessibility Standard 1.1, which is based on WCAG 2.1
- Web Usability Standard 1.3
India
Government websites must comply with WCAG, Level AA.
Hong Kong
Government websites must comply with WCAG, Level AA.
Brazil
The Brazilian Constitution outlines the government's responsibility toward people with disabilities.
The Brazilian Law for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities addresses:
- Website accessibility
- Access to books and print materials
- Support of assistive technology
Australia
All government and non-government websites need to comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Key takeaways
- Most countries, states, regions, and cities have their own laws and requirements surrounding people with disabilities and accessibility.
- Many countries' digital accessibility requirements are directly based on WCAG.
- Some laws and guidelines may be more specific than others, so it is important to do your research before applying, accepting, and delivering goods and services.
Quick review
| Topic | Main point |
|---|---|
| Civil laws | Equal rights and anti-discrimination. |
| Procurement laws | Accessibility in purchasing and contracting. |
| Industry-specific laws | Accessibility in critical industries such as communication and travel. |
| UDHR | Human rights should be universally protected. |
| CRPD | People with disabilities are rights-holders, not objects. |
| Marrakesh Treaty | Makes adapted books easier to produce and transfer internationally. |
| Inter-American Convention | Targets discrimination based on disability. |
| African Charter | Protects human rights and basic freedoms in Africa. |
| Country examples | Many governments use WCAG-based digital accessibility requirements. |
Video and self-study resources
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