Discrimination, everyday problems in almost all areas of life, and a high risk of poverty complicate the complex position of people with disabilities, which is confirmed by the number of complaints due to discrimination based on disability that has been at the top for years, says the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, on the occasion of the celebration of December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The Commissioner points out that, despite the visible progress, some of the important issues have not been resolved to a sufficient extent, which pertains primarily to adequate access to education, employment, health and social care services, and various types of support, but also to deinstitutionalization and the abolition of the practice of complete deprivation of legal capacity of persons with disabilities. Women and children with disabilities, who are often exposed to multiple forms of discrimination, are in a particularly difficult position, the Commissioner pointed out.

Janković emphasized that in all the past years, accessibility was the biggest problem, which makes it practically impossible to exercise all other rights. “The problem is not only physical accessibility but also other types of obstacles facing citizens with visual and hearing impairments”, the Commissioner added.

Janković stated that the educational structure of persons with disabilities is significantly less favorable than that of the general population and that it is particularly important to improve the accessibility of the educational system to children with disabilities, as well as to continuously improve inclusive education, providing support to pupils and students in accordance with their needs. To that end, the Commissioner has sent several recommendations for measures to local self-governments and competent ministries, the Commissioner stated at the Dialogue on the Improvement of Inclusive Policies organized by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue in cooperation with the Association of Students with Handicap.

“We have very good results after the implementation of the last in a series of recommended measures related to the adoption of affirmative measures for the awarding of scholarships for pupils and students in local self-government units to pupils and students with disabilities”, said Janković.

The Commissioner also pointed out that it is necessary to maintain continuous activities aimed at improving the position of persons with disabilities in accordance with the Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the period 2021-2030.