International Conference : “ Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Balkans and Turkey Istanbul on 9 th to 11 th October “The disability movement and advocacy campaign to promote Human Rights of PWD’s in Serbia and main challenges faced” Ivanka Jovanović National organization of people with disabilities of Serbia

WHO WE ARE National organization of persons with disabilities of Serbia is the Union of organizations of the persons with individual types of disabilities, the organizations of legal advocates of persons with disabilities and the interest organizations gathering persons with different types of disabilities organized for the territory of the Republic of Serbia. It was established on June 22 nd 2007 as the organization of special social interest with the legal status. It represents the united movement of persons with disabilities of Serbia, speaking in the name of most persons with disabilities, implying the most important political strength in advocating their common interests and needs.

Our mission Increasing inclusion of persons with disabilities in society, full respect of human rights and non-discrimination based on disability, through partnership of the unique disability movement and the republic in passing and applying the disability Laws and other documents, in compliance with the international standards and documents.

The goals of National organization of persons with disabilities of Serbia: Common advocating of the interests of persons with disabilities in Serbia Protection and promotion of basic human rights Struggle against prejudice and discrimination based on disability and full participation, equality and social inclusion

The goals of National organization of persons with disabilities of Serbia: Acceptance of international and European disability standards, principles and documents and their application in Serbia Advancing the status of persons with disabilities, including the application of National disability strategy and policy and the reform of national laws

The goals of National organization of persons with disabilities of Serbia: Developing the cooperation and participation in the international disability movement Empowering the cooperation among the organizations – members of the National organization and the support to their individual capacities development

Elementary activities of NOOIS as the methods of human rights promotion in Serbia Legislative activities (advocacy) - the amendments to regulations, sending the proposals of amendments to the competent Parliamentary Committees, active participation in the adoption of new laws and by-laws, strategic documents, participation in the work groups for the creation of various regulations For instance: the Law on Social Protection and accompanying By-laws, Law on the Usage of Sign Language, Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment, Law on Prevention of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, Strategy for the Advancement of the Status of Persons with Disabilities etc.

Monitoring the implementation of regulations The continuous monitoring of the of adopted regulations, reminding the authorities when certain laws have not been applied, asking for the interpretation of certain regulations etc., participation in the work of the Committee for the Issues of PwD within the Government of the Republic of Serbia, in the work of the Committee for the Issues of PwD within the Office of Ombudsman etc.

Reacting Reacting to the violation of human rights and the cases of discrimination (reactions to discriminatory behaviour or statements, informing the public about it, sending complaints in the cases of discrimination to the Commissioner for Protection of Equality and the Office of Ombudsman.

Publishing and educational activities - publications (publishers and co- publishers): 1. A Guide through Disability Rrights 2. Strategy of Development and Promotion of Socially Responsible Business in the Republic of Serbia for the period The fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Law on Prevention of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities 4. Writing the projects proposals according to the EU guidelines 5. The Summer School collection of papers - the Prevention of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities

The media activities and activities aimed at informing the public on the status and rights of persons with disabilities and raising disability awareness : The electronic media appearances, making statements and sending press releases, publishing information on the official NOOIS website, the participation of the representatives of NOOIS at expert gatherings.

International activities: The participation in EDF meetings as well as in various international researches, intensive cooperation and exchange of information with DPI, ad hoc cooperation and participation in international conferences and meetings organized by UN, the Council of Europe, the European Commission etc. In addition to this, NOOIS has the intensive regional cooperation with umbrella organizations in Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia as well as the participation in various regional gatherings.

Advocacy One of the most important activities of NOOIS is advocacy, that is, the continuous monitoring of the implementation of regulations, amendments to the existing and/or adoption of new regulations, sending the proposals of amendments to the competent Parliament Committees, developing the cooperation with the Members of Parliament, participating actively in the adoption of new laws and by- laws, strategic documents, participating in work groups. Since its establishment until the present, NOOIS has become an unavoidable partner to the competent Ministry - the Ministry of Work, Employment and Social Policy, Sector for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities as well as to other Ministries and Parliament Committees. In cooperation with them, through its advocacy work, NOOIS has sent hundreds of proposals of amendments to numerous laws many of which have become part of legislation and practice.

Advocacy We especially emphasize the participation of the representatives of NOOIS in the adoption of the following laws: the Law on the Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Law on Prevention of Discrimination (both special and general one), Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment, Law on Social Protection and accompanying By-laws, Law on Social Housing, Law on Spatial Planning and Construction and the creation of the new By-law on Accessibility Standards, Lottery Law, Law on Health Care, Law on Pension and Disability Insurance etc.

Advocacy NOOIS has made efforts to incorporate the elements of non-discrimination based on disability in all regulations, regardless of the fact if they are general, systemic, of direct importance for persons with disabilities (such as the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Law on Social Protection, Law on Prevention of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, Strategy on the Advancement of the Status of Persons with Disabilities etc.) or all other regulations.

Some of good examples of successful advocacy in which NOOIS participated actively Advocacy in the health care field The amendments to the proposal of the Law on the Amendments to the Law on Health Care represent the acceptance of the initiative of NOOIS for the harmonization of Article 38 of the Law with the articles of the Convention prescribing the prohibition of experiments with a person with disability without the consent of that person.

Some of good examples of successful advocacy in which NOOIS participated actively Advocacy in the social protection field The amendments to the Law on Social Protection specifying the criteria for realization of the right to the allowance for the help and care of other person as well as the proposals for the creation of the By-law in the social protection field especially as far as the segment of introducing the various support services for persons with disabilities with different types of disabilities is concerned (PA services, personal child’s attendant, supportive housing, daily care, help at home).

Some of good examples of successful advocacy in which NOOIS participated actively Advocacy in the accessibility standards field The amendment to the Law to Road Transportation regulating the accessibility standards and technical conditions in the road transportation of passengers in order to enable persons with disabilities to have equal access to road transportation. NOOIS actively participated in the adoption of the new By-law on Technical Accessibility Standards which defines technical accessibility standards in a more detailed way and develop urban-technical conditions for public, transportation and pedestrian spatial planning, access to buildings, building projects relating to both the newly projected and the reconstructing buildings (residential buildings, buildings intended for public use etc.) as well as special appliances in these buildings (Article 1). The Law on the Serbian Sign Language is expected, too. It will provide persons with hearing impairments with Sign language interpreters in the state institutions in the fields of public administration, judiciary, education, employment...

Some of good examples of successful advocacy in which NOOIS participated actively NOOIS and RTS signed the Cooperation Protocol. The subject of this Protocol is launching a new TV show dealing with persons with disabilities named "A place for us“.

Some of good examples of successful advocacy in which NOOIS participated actively Protocols with political parties During the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections in 2012, same as on the occasion of previous Elections, NOOIS offered the Cooperation Protocol containing the principles of cooperation and joint work on creating the disability policy in Serbia to political parties which participated in these elections. By the end of the campaign, the Protocols were signed by six Parliamentary parties, except for the current governing party in Serbia.

Main challenges and policy campaigns in Serbia The sustainability of disability organizations at local and national levels which is an increasing challenge due to the economic crisis and the reduction of funds for financing the programmes and work of disability organizations The adoption of the Law on Disability Organizations which would define more clearly a legal and financial framework for the work of disability organizations

Main challenges and policy campaigns in Serbia Creating the pre-conditions in practice, especially at local level, for the implementation of already adopted laws, particularly the Law on Inclusive Education, Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Law on Social Protection and disability regulations as well as other antidiscrimination laws Further development of deinstitutionalization with a parallel development of different support services.

THANK YOU!