As part of the campaign "Your rights are my rights too", realized by I.C. "Lotos" and the Association of Blind Persons of Sarajevo Canton, with the aim of introducing the public to the state of implementation of human rights and the position of persons with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we bring you interviews with fighters for the human rights of persons with disabilities. The first in a series of interviews in which we want to draw attention to this important topic and the position of persons with disabilities in BiH is a conversation with Mr. Suvad Zahirović, director of the Information Center for Persons with Disabilities Lotos Tuzla and president of the Union of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in BiH.

Suvad Zahirović was born in 1962 in Brčko. He spent his early childhood in a village near Srebrenik, attended and completed elementary school at the Institute for Blind Children in Sarajevo, and secondary medical school and the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade. After his studies, he returned to Srebrenik, and shortly after his return, he began working at the Association of the Blind in Tuzla, where his work and activist involvement in the movement of people with disabilities began.

˝It was a joint state in which education was given great importance and in which people with disabilities were really included in compulsory primary education¨- Suvad began the conversation by emphasizing the importance of systemic care and education for people with disabilities.

The improvement of systemic care for people with disabilities is one of the goals of the project "Creating policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect for human rights and the rights of people with disabilities", which is implemented with the support of the European Union by I.C. "Lotos" Tuzla and the Association of Blind Cantons of Sarajevo, within which this campaign is implemented.

What message are you sending to decision-makers and institutions with this campaign?

The message is that human rights must not be declarative. Citizens expect concrete policies, budgets and measures that will ensure a dignified life for everyone, especially people with disabilities and other marginalized groups. The responsibility of institutions is crucial.

Why is the "Your Rights Are My Rights" campaign important right now?

This campaign is important because we live in a time when human rights are often taken for granted, but are also violated daily. The message of the campaign is clear: when the rights of one group are threatened, the whole of society is threatened. This is not a topic for tomorrow – this is an issue of our present.

What is the key message for citizens who think that human rights do not concern them?

Human rights concern each of us, even when we are not aware of it. If we remain silent today about injustice towards others, tomorrow we may have no one to turn to when that injustice affects us. Solidarity is a personal interest, not an abstract value.

How to motivate citizens to move from passivity to activism?

Activism doesn't have to start with big steps. It is enough to get informed, talk about problems and react when we see injustice. This campaign tells people that they are not alone and that every voice has weight.

The campaign will pay special attention to young people and women with disabilities as particularly vulnerable categories. Why are young people important agents of change when we talk about human rights?

Young people have the strength, energy and courage to question existing patterns. They are already using digital tools to advocate for change and this campaign gives them the space to make their voice visible and relevant. On the other hand, women with disabilities often face multiple discrimination – as women and as persons with disabilities. If their rights are not protected, it is a clear indication that society does not function fairly. Their visibility is a measure of our social maturity.

What does the message: "Your rights are my rights" mean to you personally?

For me, that message means responsibility. It means that they cannot claim their rights and turn a blind eye to the violation of the rights of others. This is the basis of solidarity and the reason I am engaged in activism.