| Jeannette Simpoha Nylin | |
| Doctorante à la Södertörn University (Stockholm) | |
| Au cours des dernières décennies, les technologies numériques telles que les sites webs web et les applications mobiles sont devenues essentielles pour les gouvernements afin de fournir des informations, des services et de renforcer la participation du public. Cependant, ces technologies créent également des obstacles et favorisent l’exclusion de nombreuses personnes, notamment les personnes en situation de handicap et les personnes âgées, qui les trouvent inaccessibles. L’accessibilité numérique ou web consiste à concevoir des outils afin que tout le monde puisse accéder aux informations et participer à la société numérique. L’accessibilité web est une condition préalable à une pleine et effective participation à la société sur la base de l’égalité avec les autres, comme l’exige la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits des personnes handicapées (CDPH). Cet article discute de l’interdépendance entre l’accessibilité web, l’accès à l’information et la participation du public. Il examine la Directive sur l’Accessibilité du Web (DAW) adoptée par l’Union européenne (UE), qui exige que les sites web et les applications mobiles du secteur public soient accessibles à tous les utilisateurs, notamment ceux en situation de handicap. L’article explore aussi comment la Suède, un leader en technologie numérique et en accès à l’information, a mis en œuvre la Directive sur l’Accessibilité du Web pour améliorer l’accessibilité des informations et des services gouvernementaux, facilitant ainsi une plus grande participation publique. Cet article montre que de nombreux sites web gouvernementaux en Suède n’étaient pas conformes à la Directive et étaient donc inaccessibles aux personnes handicapées et aux personnes âgées. | In recent decades, digital technologies like websites and mobile apps have become essential for governments to provide information, services, and increase public participation. However, these technologies also create barriers and exclusion for many, especially people with disabilities and older adults, who find them inaccessible. Digital or web accessibility involves designing tools so everyone can access information and participate in the digital society. Web accessibility is a prerequisite for full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others, as required by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This paper discusses the interdependence between web accessibility, access to information, and public participation. It examines the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) adopted by the European Union (EU), which mandates that public sector websites and mobile applications be accessible to all users, particularly those with disabilities. The paper also explores how Sweden, a leader in digital technology and public access to information, has implemented the Web Accessibility Directive to make government information and services more accessible, thereby facilitating greater public participation. This paper shows that many government websites in Sweden were not compliant to the Directive and were thus inaccessible for people with disabilities and older people. |
| The ubiquitiousness of digital technologies has created both opportunities and challenges for our fundamental rights and democracy. Websites (web) and mobile applications (apps) are widely used by governments to provide information and services and foster participation. However, they can create barriers and exclusion for many people, especially people with disabilities and older people, who cannot access them. Digital accessibility or web accessibility, which includes not only web but also mobile apps accessibility, means designing digital tools so that everyone is able to access information online and participate in the digital society. Web accessibility is a prerequisite for full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others as required under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The European Union (EU) has adopted the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) 2016/2102 which requires Member States to ensure that the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies are more accessible to users, in particular persons with disabilities. About 167 million EU citizens have a disability or age-related condition which can prevent them from accessing services and information on government websites. In Sweden, around 20 percent of the population has some form of disability. | |
| The purpose of this paper is, thus, to examine the Web Accessibility Directive and how Sweden, one of the leading countries in the use of digital technologies and a pioneer in public access to information, has implemented the Directive to ensure access to government information and services online as well as enable participation. In this paper, I argue that access to information online is a condition for participation online and thus, the importance of web accessibility. | L’avis du Comité scientifique
L’article de Jeannette Simpoha Nylin examine comment la Directive Accessibilité Web UE 2016/2102, ainsi que le droit suédois, tentent de remédier à la fracture numérique engendrée par la digitalisation de l’administration en imposant des règles favorisant l’accessibilité aux sites internet et applications mobiles de l’administration. Au-delà de l’analyse juridique, l’étude comporte une partie empirique qui met en lumière les difficultés rencontrées par les autorités publiques suédoises dans la mise en œuvre de ces règles. Patricia JONASON Professeure à la Sördertörn University |
| Therefore, I firstly explore the interdependence between web accessibility, access to information and participation; secondly, I examine the EU Website Accessibility Directive and then the Swedish transposition of the Directive; and lastly, I look into governments’ websites accessibility in Sweden. | |