On June 5, 2026, consultations were held at the headquarters of the United Nations in Sarajevo on the status and position of organizations of persons with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event was organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Union of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and gathered around 30 participants from organizations of persons with disabilities, government institutions and United Nations agencies.

Among the participants were representatives of organizations of people with disabilities from all over the country, representatives of institutions from the state and federal level, as well as representatives of several United Nations agencies. Most of the participants were women.

The information center for persons with disabilities "Lotos" was represented by Zumreta Galijašević-Baluković, Armin Babović and Suad Zahirović, who also participated as representatives of the Union of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Suad Zahirović addressed the participants at the opening and closing of the consultations, while Zumreta Galijašević-Baluković and Armin Babović actively participated in the working discussions.

During the consultations, the position and role of organizations of persons with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the challenges they face, as well as the possibilities for improving their activities were discussed. It was particularly emphasized that organizations of persons with disabilities are key partners of government institutions in creating policies in the field of disability, but that the competent institutions still do not provide them with sufficient resources to fulfill this important role.

One of the significant conclusions of the meeting is the agreement on further strengthening of cooperation between organizations of persons with disabilities, especially their Union, and United Nations agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The participants expressed their belief that the field of disability will be among the priorities of the future activities of the United Nations system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which can contribute to a more responsible attitude of domestic institutions towards organizations of persons with disabilities.

These consultations represent an important step towards a stronger partnership between organizations of persons with disabilities, government institutions and international organizations, with the aim of creating a more inclusive society and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.