At the joint sitting the two committees discussed sustainable development and the promise of technology in the service of the human rights of persons with disabilities.

The participants of the sitting were greeted by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ninoslav Stojadinovic who said that the society as a whole, as well as the National Assembly, should promote understanding for the issues of the disabled, their human rights and help their equal inclusion in social life.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Labour, Social Issues, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Dr Vesna Rakonjac underlined the importance of education for persons with disabilities and their inclusion from the earliest age.

MA Aleksandra Jerkov, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science, Technological Development and the Information Society, said that though a lot has been done to promote the status of persons with disabilities, it is still not enough. Understanding the issues of persons with disabilities starts at school, through peer education, said Aleksandra Jerkov, adding that schools should ensure adequate learning conditions for children with disabilities and work on preventing discrimination.

The participants of the sitting were also addressed by former MP and President of the Centre for Independent Living Gordana Rajkov who highlighted the importance of political participation of persons with disabilities in the adoption of adequate laws and other measures that would make their lives easier.

Assistant Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Vladimir Pesic announced that two bills regulating the unimpeded movement of visually impaired persons and the use of sign language should soon enter Assembly procedure.

Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Slobodan Stupar spoke of the studying conditions provided to students with disabilities and outlined the potentials of distance learning.

The participants of the sitting were also addressed by representatives of the Office for Human and Minority Rights and the National Organisation of Persons with Disabilities.

Representatives of persons with disabilities also took part in the sitting by presenting the problems they face in day-to-day life and appealed for adequate living and working conditions so that they could exercise their human rights.

The joint sitting was held with the support of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The sitting was co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Committee on Labour, Social Issues, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Dr Vesna Rakonjac and the Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science, Technological Development and the Information Society MA Aleksandra Jerkov.

(video)