Citizens with disabilities are among the most discriminated persons in Serbia, their position is still extremely difficult, the vast majority of them are affected by poverty, unemployment and lack of community services, and despite numerous measures, it does not seem that it is sufficient to adequately address a number of problems, said Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic on the occasion of marking December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Measures aimed to improve their position in various fields exist for years now, but in practice they rarely achieve the desired effects and are often seen as an additional burden instead of contributing to the fact that people living next to us, instead of living with us, are equal members of society and who can contribute greatly. Disability has been in the very top of discrimination grounds for years in terms of the number of complaints submitted to Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, mostly regarding the provision of public services and the use of facilities and surfaces, the actions of public authorities, as well as the labor market and employment process. Women with disabilities are particularly in a difficult position, as well as children with disabilities and developmental disabilities, who because of insufficient support and lack of pedagogical assistants, encounter obstacles in education, during this most important period of their lives, Jankovic emphasizes.
Commissioner underlines that it is necessary to adopt a new strategy as soon as possible to improve the position of persons with disabilities, as well as to take measures that will enable persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all rights and benefit from participation in society and the economy. Noting that the state, as the largest employer, should set an example, Commissioner points out that state institutions and public companies should employ an adequate number of persons with disabilities, instead of paying to the budget fund, in accordance with legal provisions. Also, the problems of inaccessibility of health, educational and other public institutions should be solved, as well as adjusting of city transport and stops, with accessibility of information and communication means.
The Commissioner recalls the need to amend the laws concerning the exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities, including the Law on Financial Support for Families with Children, for whose controversial provisions she submitted to the Constitutional Court a proposal for review of constitutionality and legality. It is also necessary to amend the regulations on legal capacity, ensure the development of support services in local communities, strengthen capacities in the field of inclusive education at all levels and implement the process of deinstitutionalization, said Commissioner Jankovic.
