Regulation of ‘National Disabled Data System’ Published in Official Gazette
New Regulation to Protect the Rights of Disabled Persons in Turkey
A new regulation called the “National Disability Data System” has been published in the Official Gazette and has entered into force in Turkey. The aim of this regulation is to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and provide them with services more effectively.
According to the reports of the health board, the regulation includes children with special needs who have at least 40 percent disability in adults, and who have at least this rate according to the ‘Special Needs Report for Children’ (SOL-GER) for those under the age of 18. The citizens of the Republic of Turkey covered by this regulation will be issued a “Disabled Identity Card” and will be processed into the “National Disabled Data System”. This will enable them to benefit from the rights and services granted to the disabled.
It is optional for citizens who meet the specified conditions to obtain an identity card and register with the “National Disability Data System”. Applications for the identity card can be made through Provincial Directorates, Social Service Centers, or e-Government. The ID cards will be organized by provincial directorates or social service centers based on the information in the report and the identity information of the individual.
The identity cards issued in accordance with the “Identity Card Regulation for the Disabled” published on August 13, 1998, and the “Regulation on the Establishment of a Database for the Disabled and the Inclusion of the Disability Information in the Identity Card” published on October 30, 2005, will remain valid. The statement indicating the disability rate printed on the identity cards in accordance with the provisions of the “Regulation on the Establishment of a Database for the Disabled and the Issuance of Identity Cards to the Disabled” published on July 19, 2008, will also remain valid.
Furthermore, holders of Disabled Identity Cards issued by the competent authorities of member states of The Hague Conference on Private Law of States will be able to benefit from the same rights by completing their transactions in case of equivalence basis.
This new regulation is expected to provide better protection and services for disabled persons in Turkey and increase their inclusion in society.
