Press release

On the occasion December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities:

"We express our protest and dissatisfaction with society's attitude towards persons with disabilities, because, despite the adopted international and our own documents regulating the field of disability, the situation of persons with disabilities has changed, but for the worse," Suvad Zahirović, executive director of the Information Center for Persons with Disabilities "Lotos" from Tuzla, told us.

Information Center for Persons with Disabilities "Lotos" in cooperation with other organizations of persons with disabilities, traditionally, tenth For the past year, it has been organizing a reception for representatives of government institutions, business representatives and other public figures from various segments of society. The purpose of hosting the reception is for organizations of people with disabilities to present their work in the previous year, and to highlight problems and topics that need to be worked on more in the coming period, so that the quality of life and inclusion in society of individuals with disabilities can be changed for the better.

Assessing that most societies in the world still do not do enough to create preconditions for full inclusion and equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, the United Nations proclaimed that the International Day of Persons with Disabilities be celebrated this year under the motto:

"By removing barriers to creating an inclusive and accessible society for all"

In our city, but also throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, people with disabilities are still the poorest, most excluded and most discriminated group of citizens and face a series of obstacles created by society, which prevent them from enjoying human rights and prevent their inclusion in community activities.

People with disabilities are denied the enjoyment of basic human rights due to barriers created by society and insufficient efforts are being made to remove them.

People with disabilities do not have access to education, healthcare, support services, employment, and other resources essential to quality of life that are available to other citizens.

The crisis that is increasingly present in our country is negatively affecting the position of people with disabilities and their families.

"In response to the crisis, government institutions are planning to implement reforms that would significantly reduce or completely abolish the current forms of support for people with disabilities, which is an unacceptable attitude," said Zahirović.

"People with disabilities due to the crisis should not be the first to be denied community support".

Organizations of people with disabilities are also in an increasingly unenviable position. Funds to support the implementation of their activities have been completely absent, or have been drastically reduced. Decisions that are made, which are significant for the lives of people with disabilities, are made without consultation with organizations of people with disabilities, which is in contrast with proclaimed and adopted standards.

All of the above is enough to express concern, but also a reason to take urgent actions so that the situation truly begins to change and so that all those in charge take their share of responsibility, but show readiness for a new, different attitude towards the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.