In 2000, the Equal Opportunities Act (EOA) rendered discrimination against disabled people illegal. The Act, which is intended to safeguard the rights of disabled persons, is divided into six sections - employment, education, access, goods and services, housing and insurance.
Five years after the EOA's enactment, the National Commission Persons with Disability (KNPD) felt the need to organise an awareness-raising campaign so that disabled people and their families can learn more about how this law can be used to bring discriminatory behaviour to an end.
This campaign, carried out with the financial support of the European Union Programme to Combat Discrimination, included the airing of adverts regarding the EOA on local newspapers, radio and television stations. In addition, KNPD published a booklet, which explains how to understand whether one is being discriminated against on the grounds on disability and what to do to put forward a claim to KNPD.
This publication, entitled Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act can be found on the Commission's Website: www. knpd.org and a copy in Maltese can be obtained from the Commission's offices at Centru Hidma Socjali, St Venera.