On May 5th, 2026, May 5th - European Day of Independent Living was celebrated at Trg Slobode in Tuzla, organized by the Information Center for People with Disabilities "Lotos" Tuzla. This date, which was announced by the European Network of Centers for Independent Living, reminds us every year of the importance of the right of people with disabilities to an independent and dignified life, but also of the numerous obstacles they still face in everyday life. This year's celebration took place under the banner of a street campaign under the slogan "My life - my choice", which brought together numerous citizens, representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society organizations, as well as students and pupils. Through a series of interactive activities and simulations, the organizers tried to bring the public closer to the everyday challenges faced by people with disabilities, but also to point out solutions that can contribute to their greater independence and equal participation in
society. Special focus is placed on the importance of personal assistance as a key support service, which is also advocated through the project "Together for independent living" whose activities are implemented within the framework of the project "Dialogue for the Future 3 - DFF3", which is carried out by UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO, in cooperation with the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations, and in partnership with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the financial support of the Peacebuilding Fund of the United Nations Secretary General (PBF). Personal assistance enables people with disabilities to make their own decisions, manage their lives and actively participate in the community. However, as was pointed out during the event, the lack of systemically organized and accessible personal assistance services continues to represent one of the biggest obstacles to the realization of these rights. Young people with disabilities are particularly affected by these challenges, because denying them adequate support directly hinders the process of independence and inclusion in social flows. Instead of empowerment, they are often faced with isolation and dependence, which further emphasizes the need for urgent and concrete solutions at the institutional level. The participants of the event had the opportunity to try, through simulations, what it looks like to provide support within the framework of personal assistance, but also to hear the personal experiences of young people with disabilities, members of Lotos. This approach additionally contributed to the understanding of the importance of this service and its impact on the quality of life. During the program, Selma Plančić was awarded activist of the year, in recognition of her exceptional efforts and advocacy in the fight for the rights of people with disabilities. Visitors also had the opportunity to receive promotional materials, but also to participate in symbolic activities that further enriched the event, including a tour bus ride through the city center. A special moment of celebration was the release of red balloons, which symbolically marked the beginning of the four-year campaign aimed at improving accessibility. As part of the campaign, accessible facilities and institutions will be marked with red dots as examples of good practice. The campaign is implemented with the support of Kynnys ru from Finland. The organizers have once again made a clear call to institutions and decision makers to recognize the importance of system organization and financing of personal assistance services, as well as the removal of all obstacles that prevent people with disabilities from living independently. The message sent once again is that the right to live independently is not a privilege, but a basic human right. And only by joint action is it possible to build a society in which every person has the freedom of choice - where to live, how to live and with whom to live.
The event marking May 5 is supported by: Kynnys ru, Stil, MyRight, Disability Partnership Finland, the United Nations joint project "Dialogue for the Future 3 - DFF3" financed by the Peacebuilding Fund of the United Nations Secretary General (PBF), Trag/OAK Foundation, European Disability Forum, Enil, FBiH Government, TK Government, City of Tuzla.