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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Efforts to deal with discrimination against disabled persons

Belgrade, 10 October 2006

State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy and president of the council for the disabled Vesna Piperski-Tucakov said today that the relationship toward the disabled is no longer a social policy issue, but one of respecting human rights.

From left: Gordana Rajkov, Vesna Piperski-Tucakov and Goran Pavlovic

Piperski-Tucakov told a press conference that disabled persons in Serbia live in poor conditions, have low incomes and high living expenses and that they are discriminated against when it comes to education and finding employment.

She said funds will be set aside from the National Investment Plan to build ramps in all health and social care centres in the country so that there is access for the disabled.

She stated that the implementation of the Law on the prevention of discrimination against disabled persons will oblige local self-governments to make public transport and all public surfaces and facilities available for the disabled, as well as to introduce unique markings for the vehicles the disabled drive or in which they are driven.

Representative of the Serbian centre for independent life of the disabled and member of the Council for the Disabled Gordana Rajkov stated that 50% of disabled persons in Serbia have either no education or only rudimentary or special education.

She emphasised that equal rights must lead to equality in opportunities, adding that it is not enough to pass laws since laws must also be implemented in practice.

Executive Director of the Association of Disabled Students Goran Pavlovic stressed that ignorance is probably the greatest source of discrimination against the disabled, which is why education is indispensable to ensure the rest of the society can be informed about the problems the disabled are facing.

According to various estimates, between 350,000 and 760,000 persons with disabilities live in Serbia, and people with disabilities make up around 10% of the world population, their number in the EU being around 44 million.