The need for solidarity and engagement of institutions in the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities came to full expression during the pandemic of COVID 19, says Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Janković on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The difficult situation of people with disabilities has been further aggravated, as certain measures to mitigate the spread of the virus, as well as the general situation caused by the pandemic, have led to an increased number of cases of discrimination against our fellow citizens with disabilities.

Increased isolation and exclusion, limited access to health and social protection services, insufficient use of modern technologies for adequate information, education and communication, increased risk of domestic violence, as well as difficult living conditions in institutions of social care where people with disabilities live are just some of the problems that, due to the pandemic, have strongly affected this vulnerable social group.

Janković pointed out that Commissioner for the Protection of Equality reacted in a timely manner to the new situation, by sending several recommendations and initiatives to state bodies and institutions during the state of emergency. Among them is the initiative to allow personal free movement during the curfew to assistants and informal caregivers, people with autism and their caregivers, to enable employees with disabilities to work from home, to include organized support to people with disabilities at the local level, as well as recommendation to RTS to adapt the news program to persons with impaired vision or hearing. The Government of the Republic of Serbia has accepted most of the recommendations of our institution, and RTS and RTV have adapted their information content to people with sensory disabilities.

As the digital environment plays increasingly significant role in our lives, which is even more existent in pandemic, it is extremely important to enable people with disabilities to be actively involved. On that occasion, Commissioner Brankica Janković speaks at the conference “For a life without barriers” dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the digital society, which is being held on December 3.