“Community of different, but equal citizens”: Marking the International Day of persons with disabilities
This year’s theme of marking the International Day of persons with disabilities is focused on the empowerment of persons with disabilities to achieve an inclusive, just and sustainable development. Project “Community of different, but equal citizens” aims to achieve a greater level of inclusiveness of civil society in the process of European integration, focusing on increasing social inclusiveness and non-discrimination of persons with disabilities.
The project is funded by the European Union in the amount of 450 000 euros. Its concept and results will, in the next 36 months, contribute to achieving the Objectives of the sustainable development 2030.
Organization of amputees “UDAS” is implementing the project in partnership with the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa) Banja Luka and the Association of Citizens “Nešto Više” Sarajevo.
With the realization of the project, they want to strengthen the capacity of the network of women with disabilities and network of persons with disabilities UDAS. Also, the goal is to affect the increase in social sensitivity of civil society that is not primarily organisations of persons with disabilities and representatives of the local authorities. It will directly cause an increase in promotional activities and public advocacy of integration of persons with disabilities through various activities of civil society, the media, the authorities and the public. It will eventually result in the involvement of persons with disabilities in the process of passing decisions.
Through the project, at least 150 members of the network will gain new knowledge which they can apply in their work. Additionally, a Group for peer support will be set to convey knowledge about the proper way to support persons with disabilities by persons who are in a similar or the same situation.
Long-term results of the project include the establishment of the team for tracking the implementation of strategy, law and policy in the field of employment, education, health care, and the establishment of five “advisory” positions for persons with disabilities in five local communities. During the implementation, it is planned to map 60 schools and 20 institutions in BiH. An analysis of adaptability of the infrastructure of these institutions to persons with disabilities is planned. Ten individuals with disabilities will acquire their first work experience through an internship in the organizations of civil society that aren’t primarily organizations of PWD and public institutions that express a wish for opening these possibilities. Besides, twenty young experts will gain their first work experience through work in organizations of persons with disabilities.
