Accessibility Principle: Disability, Public Policies, and Human Rights

Abstract

This paper addresses accessibility and physical disability as a human rights issue, based on a bibliographic review, supported by the normative analysis of the most relevant international human rights instruments and internal regulations to identify the legal standards and technical standards required of the State as the main guarantor of the rights of persons with disabilities. From this, we proceed to the critical evaluation of the public policies guaranteeing the principle of universal access to public transport adopted by the Central Government of Ecuador and by the Municipality of the Metropolitan District of Quito from the period 2000-2017, with Statistical data support. Finally, public policy guidelines are proposed for the effective protection of this right, taking into consideration that the study was focused on the Metropolitan District of Quito, as it is the city with the largest number of inhabitants in the country; and, with the largest number of people with disabilities registered, according to what is determined in CONADIS.