Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, spoke at the opening of the International Scientific Conference “20 Years Since the Adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” organized by the Institute of Comparative Law. The conference brought together prominent scholars and experts from Serbia and abroad, and throughout the two-day program, legal and social aspects of the position of persons with disabilities were discussed, with special focus on comparative legal perspectives.

In her introductory address, the Commissioner emphasized that the conference is a significant opportunity to examine issues related to the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs), equality and prohibition of discrimination, awareness-raising, the rights of girls and women with disabilities as a multiply discriminated group, issues of accessibility, mobility and health, work and employment, social protection, the realization of political rights, and multisectoral challenges faced by PWDs.

The Commissioner dedicated special attention to the findings of the recently presented Special Report on Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, in which particular focus was placed on the area of work and employment. The report was initiated independently by the Commissioner’s institution and submitted to the National Assembly. She pointed out that the report addressed not only individual problems, but also their interconnection, alongside concrete recommendations for improving the position of persons with disabilities.

She noted that a large number of citizens’ complaints point to problems with the inaccessibility of public spaces, institutions, and transportation, as well as difficulties in communication and access to information, all of which directly affect the realization of fundamental rights and services. She particularly stressed that denying accessibility constitutes a violation of the law and basic human rights, and that this aspect must remain a permanent priority for all competent authorities.