The Coalition of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities of the Canton of Tivat successfully organized a roundtable discussion on the topic of "Establishing Community Support Services as a Prerequisite for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities" and a public debate on the Draft Strategy for Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 5, 2024, at the "Dramar" Shopping Center. The speakers at the event were the President of the Coalition of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities of the Canton of Tivat, Suvad Zahirović, Project Manager at the "Lotos" Center, Sandra Marković, President of the Coordination Board of the Sarajevo Canton, Fikret Zuko, and representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Esma Palić. The event brought together 46 participants, representatives of government institutions, organizations of persons with disabilities, interested in improving the position of persons with disabilities. During the discussion, the importance of community support services, such as personal assistance and initiatives for supported housing, as key prerequisites for a dignified and independent life, was emphasized. Also, the importance of implementing legal solutions from the draft Strategy for Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in the FBiH was discussed, which enable equal access to rights for persons with disabilities in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Special focus was placed on the transformation of the social approach to persons with disabilities - from the perception of a "burden of society" to recognizing their role as creators of social value. We thank all participants for their contribution and constructive suggestions that will serve as the basis for future work on improving the position of persons with disabilities in our community.

The event was organized with the support of MyRight Sweden and the Government of the Canton of Tuzla.